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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.REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Is there anyone who cannot be reached by the saving power of the gospel?
How can parents faithfully point their children to Christ while recognizing that salvation is ultimately the work of God?