Letter From the Editor’s Desk: Jesus Christ and His Relationship With Children
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Keywords: #letterfromtheeditor, #jesuschrist, #godandchildren, #jesusandchildren, #teen cults, #suicide, #teensuicide.
Hello, ePrayer Circle’s Tribe,
Today, after my daily walk, I sat to rest. I saw children playing. I smiled at their delight. I wondered if their parents taught them about God or took them to church. I wondered if the children liked church, children’s church, or Sunday School.
When I was a child, I thought of church as a gathering place. Every Sunday, we went to church and there were all my cousins my age. After church, we would play for a little time as the adults hung around to talk and talk and talk. Oh, what fun. This thought brought me to think of the many children I have taught in Sunday School classes, and how they viewed God and later, how they related to God.
I taught ages 12 to 13 in Sunday School. I had to entertain them with bible games, feed them with snacks, and then teach them. I was determined to get their attention in order to relate the Word of God to their everyday routines and issues. God is for everyone. He understands everyone’s issues: adults, children, adolescents, teens, and young adults.
The kids fell in love with Sunday School and God. This was a great difference from when I first received the class. They were brought to the room by parents who wanted to make sure they got there. Later, many of the kids came without patents and brought others. All of them saw Jesus as someone who loved them.
He was not just another authority figure. In each class, I would write on the board a sentence stating what they learned and ask them, after class, to tell the statement to their parents, put the statement on their social media accounts, or text their friends in order to grow the class.
They said no no, that’s not cool, as if coming to Sunday School was embarrassing. They laughed. I ignored the resistance and continued the practice. A month later, they were telling their parents and cousins about Jesus and the fruits of the spirit. The kids were already saved and in church as well as their friends and families but they learned to look at Jesus as someone who understood them when their parents and teachers did not.
There were homeless (shelter) kids in the class. Frankly, I did not observe any different issues than the ones who had stable homes. Maybe, that was because they had not accepted any responsibilities for a household and there were others like them. Then again, I did not know how long they were in shelters. I just knew they did not display any learning deficiencies. This preteen and teen cult focus is parents just don’t understand. The other focus is, if parents make a promise and do not keep the promise, regardless of best intentions, that was a serious offense and may deserve retaliation. Sound familiar?
I am grateful that the parents loved my strategy and supported the teachings by asking the kids, What did you learn today? I wondered if more children looked at Jesus as their personal advisor and friend, would there be fewer suicide rates among the young? They could believe in something bigger than themselves. They could know there is hope in the Lord and not be afraid to seek help and find stillness in God. “Psalm 46:10 KJV Be still and know that I am God.”
Suicide is now the leading cause of death for 13- and 14-year-olds in the United States, said senior researcher Dr. Sarah Wood, a professor of pediatrics at Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine. (Source: Medical Press: May 1, 2023. Retrieved from the Internet on June 9, 2023).
Jesus loves children. It is our job as parents to get the Word in our children with whatever it takes and sometimes it’s a bribe. Children’s daily needs are met by their parents but one day, they will become adults, and join the daily grind of providing for themselves and having their own families.
They need to be prepared. Skills may take them places where their character will not keep them. Years ago, I heard a pastor say in a church service that he read statistics that if children do not see their parents read the bible, praise God or go to church often, when they turn 18 or leave home they rarely return to the faith. Some return when they have nowhere else to go. Maybe they are serving life sentences or living in the streets.
Proverbs 22:6 KJV “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
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Jesus Christ had a special relationship with children. He often welcomed them into his presence and spoke to them with love and compassion. In the Bible, there are many stories that illustrate Jesus’ love for children.
One of the most famous stories is found in Mark 10:13-16KJV. In this story, Parents brought their children to Jesus to be blessed. The disciples try to stop the children, thinking that Jesus is too busy. But Jesus rebukes the disciples and says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.“
Jesus then takes the children in his arms and blesses them. This story shows that Jesus loves children and wants them to be a part of his kingdom.
In another story, found in Matthew 19:13-14KJV, A boy’s father begs Jesus to help him. He says his son is demon-possed, and Jesus says, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The father says, “I believe; help my unbelief.” Then Jesus rebukes the demon and it leaves the boy. The boy is healed and the father is overjoyed.
This story shows that Jesus has the power to heal and deliver people from evil. It also shows that Jesus is willing to help those who are in need, including children.
Jesus also taught about the importance of children. In Matthew 18:3-4 KJV, 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus’ words teach us that we need to have the faith and trust of a child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. We also need to be humble and willing to learn from others.
Jesus’ love for children is a beautiful example of his compassion and grace. He showed children love and acceptance, and he taught them about the importance of faith and humility. Jesus’ relationship with children is a reminder that we are all loved by God, no matter how young or old we are.
In addition to the Bible stories mentioned above, there are many other passages that speak to Jesus’ love for children. For example, in John 3:16, Jesus says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This verse teaches us that God’s love is for everyone, including children.
Another passage that speaks to Jesus’ love for children is Matthew 19:14 KJV, which says, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” This verse teaches us that we should welcome children into our lives and allow them to experience the love of God.
Jesus’ love for children is a powerful example of his compassion and grace. He showed children love and acceptance, and he taught them about the importance of faith and humility. Jesus’ relationship with children is a reminder that we are all loved by God, no matter how young or old we are.
In conclusion, This letter from the editor’s desk consists of the thoughts of this editor’s experience and biblical scripture based on the authority of God. Everyone including children and teens needs to believe in something greater than themselves. God is for everyone including children. He understands everyone and is a friend indeed. He holds children and adults in equally high esteem. Matthew 19:14 KJV, says, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” It’s important to teach children about Jesus, love, repentance, and obedience because children, adolescents, and teens need to know that Jesus understands them when parents, teachers, family, and friends do not. He can help them with their problems and he will not let them down. They will grow into stable-minded, self-sustaining adults and productive citizens. According to “Medical Press”, Suicide is now the leading cause of death for 13- and 14-year-olds in the United States. What do you think about God and his relationship to children?
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A CALL TO SALVATION:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 10:9-109That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.
John 3:5-65Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7
