OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
When our 3 year old granddaughter heard that Martha and i were going out of town for a few days, she mistakenly thought we were not coming back home. After service on Sunday i could see that she and her 5 year old sister were pensive and bothered. After we were on the highway, and she was eating her lunch, she paused and asked her mom, since i was gone, who was going to preach now.
Yes, we were moved that she did not want us to be separated, but the really outstanding thing is that she realizes the place and great importance of the preacher being gone.
Our services are held in my living room, so most folks, with whom i talk, don't even think it is really church. Services are a little long, so we let the really young ones wander to and from the play room. But it is not unusual for even the youngest ones to sit quietly, listening to the message, and even participating in song and dialogue with me during the preaching.
The previous week we had so much sickness in the congregation that I cancelled services. These two little girls had their own service, with the 3 year old, "preaching." Yes, this is cute, but it is much more than cute. She, along with the other children in our church, appreciate the preacher, the services, the message and the Living God.
We would all be better off if we were as concerned with the possibility of losing the pastor.
Lord Jesus, help me to minister in such a way that the sheep, as well as the lambs, are concerned about, "Who will preach."
Another one of our grandchildren was also concerned that we might not come back from our little get away.
How sad that most folks take family, church, Christ for granted.
How sad that most people love this world and the things in this world more than they love God and His word.
How sad that most parents will put everything else ahead of God, family, church.
But when it is time to face your final moments, it is too late to wish you had put first things first. Give your children Christ, the Holy Bible, church and a Christian family at all cost.
Choose you this day whom you will serve.
