GOD’S WORD FOR SEPTEMBER 9

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

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LITTLE DISCIPLES

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. Mark 10:13

D.L. MOODY

I have no sympathy with the idea that our children have to grow up before they are converted. Once I saw a lady with three daughters at her side, and I stepped up to her and asked her if she was a Christian. “Yes, sir.” Then I asked the oldest daughter if she was a Christian. Her chin began to quiver and tears came into her eyes and she said: “I wish I was.”

The mother looked very angrily at me and said, “I don’t want you to speak to my children on that subject. They don’t understand.” And in great rage she took them away from me. One daughter was fourteen years old, one twelve, and the other ten, but they were not old enough to be talked to about religion!  Let them drift into the world and plunge into worldly amusements and then see how hard it is to reach them.  Many a mother is mourning today because her boy has gone beyond her reach. In those early days when his mind was tender and young, she might have led him to Christ.

ERWIN LUTZER

Yes, young children can understand enough of the gospel message to be saved. Yet we should never presume a child has savingly believed on Jesus just because they prayed a prayer. Let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God grant them assurance. We have the responsibility of sharing the gospel with them, but God has to do the saving.

As children grow older, they may doubt their salvation. If so, ask them to make their salvation a present reality. Let them affirm their faith in Christ by understanding repentance and sincerely accepting the gift of salvation.

Let us trust God for the miracle of our children’s salvation, bringing them up in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

    PRAYER

    Jesus, thank you for welcoming little children. Give me the faith of a little child.

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3 John 1:4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

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Deuteronomy 5:29

Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

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Psalm 34:11

Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

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Proverbs 1:8-9

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

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2 Timothy 3:14-15

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

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Deuteronomy 11:19

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

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Matthew 19:13-15

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

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Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,

Before the difficult days come,

And the years draw near when you say,

“I have no pleasure in them”:

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