What a joy it was to baptize Hudson Snider this past Sunday. Pray for him as he becomes the newest member of Barbee’s Grove.
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Jesus said, “Suffer the little children and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven”. [Matthew 19:14] As I was driving home last week, still basking in the warm glow of the Baptismal Service, I began to think. I thought of how much the Lord loves children, and of how often He uses children to minister for Him. First, I thought of some Bible examples. Samuel was a small boy when the Lord began to speak to him and through him. [1 Samuel 3:1-21] A little maid, a captured Israelite girl, ministered to her Master, Naaman, and enabled him to be healed of leprosy. [2 Kings 5: 1ff] Jesus Himself, at age 12, astonished the exalted religious leaders at the Temple with His knowledge and wisdom. [Luke 2: 46-52]

Then the Lord turned my thoughts to some modern examples of His work in the lives of children. I remembered a 5 year old girl. Her parents sat her down and explained that the Lord was leading their family to leave the USA and to move to a foreign country as missionaries. Did the child cry, and whine, saying she didn’t want to go? No. Instead she said, “Oh goody, I have wanted to be a missionary all my life”. Even at 5 she had a heart for Jesus and for others. That same little 5 year old came home from school one day and said, “Mama, I know we aren’t supposed to talk when we are in line at school. But today, I talked, and my friend became a Christian”.  I know of another 8-10 year old girl. She invited her girl classmates to her house for “sleepovers’. She led several of these to Jesus. Then, she would take her allowance money and buy them a Bible. In another Church Newsletter I read about a 9 year old boy. “He never misses Prayer Meeting [he had to walk there by himself], he has read all the age appropriate books in the Church Library, and he may become another Billy Graham”. He never preached great crusades like Billy Graham, but he did grow up to become a full time Pastor. Then, who can forget the message of our last 2 Newsletters? A 19 year old girl changed thousands of lives because she insisted that an unsaved classmate go with her to a James Robison Crusade.

Friends, Children are God’s precious gifts to us. As they are given love, guidance, Bible training at home, and as they receive that same love, guidance and Bible training from Godly church leaders, these children can be like Jesus, who, “Increased in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man.” [luke 2:52]

Oh, by the way, God is an Equal Employment Opportunity God. Not only does He use children and young people in His ministry, He also calls older people to His service. Abraham was 75, Moses was 80, and the Apostle John was around 90 when he wrote the Book of Revelation. We never get too old to serve the Lord. The Bible lists no retirement age for Christians. Paul’s testimony was this, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”. [2 Timothy 4:7] Paul ran all the way to the Finish Line. May we do the same. That is my goal. I pray that it is your goal as well.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church is at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30pm
3. Prayer and Bible Study is Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
4. $300–Amount given for the NC Baptist Children’s Homes Spring Food Drive. You may continue to give
5. April 28 and May 5
           5–7 pm–Children and Youth activities
           5:30–6:30 pm—Adult Church Training

Keep running toward the Finish Line

Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church