THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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You're only young once; after that you need some other excuse.
There's only one big thing wrong with the younger generation -- a lot of us don't belong to it anymore!
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Matt 18:1-6
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And 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.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
KJV
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Forty years ago a Philadelphia congregation watched as three 9-year-old boys were baptized and joined the church. Not long after that, the church was unable to continue with its dwindling membership, so they sold the church and disbanded.
One of those boys was Dr. Tony Compolo, author and Christian sociologist at Eastern College, Pennsylvania.
Years later Dr Compolo was doing research in the archives of that denomination, and decided to look up the church report for the year of his baptism. There was his name, and Dick White's. He's now a missionary. Bert Newman, now a professor of theology at an African seminary, was also there.
Then he read the church report for the year of his baptism: "It has not been a good year for our church. We have lost 27 members. Three joined, and they were only children."
ONLY children! What an understatement! No one knows whether that young girl in your Sunday School class may be the next "Lottie Moon." No one knows whether that young boy in your Sunday School class may be the next "Billy Graham."
Children become youth, and youth become adults. That's part of what Jesus was talking about in the Scripture above. A person must be willing to "start over" with Jesus. He must become as a "little child" and begin to grow all over again. He must begin to learn the things of God and learn to follow the leadership of his Father in heaven.
Is that what your commitment was when you surrendered to Jesus? Have you grown? Have you been willing to LISTEN, READ, STUDY, PRAY and follow God's leadership? Learn to BELONG to the "younger generation" of believers!
Another thing Jesus was talking about in the Scripture above is how His children are treated in this world. Be sure there is a "reward" for those who poke fun at and persecute God's children! And this applies to believers as well.
An awful judgment awaits those who would "offend" a believer who is striving to be like God's child.
Remember your children and youth today. Pray for them. Encourage them. Minister to them.
Love ya,
Bruce