He Seeks the Very Young

Christ is today the same compassionate Saviour as when He walked among men. He is as verily the helper of mothers now as when He gathered the little ones to His arms in Judea. The children of our hearths are as much the purchase of His blood as were the children of long ago…. When Jesus told the disciples not to forbid the children to come to Him, He was speaking to His followers in all ages—to officers of the church, ministers, helpers, and all Christians. Jesus is drawing the children, and He bids us, “Suffer them to come;” as if He would say, They will come, if you do not hinder them. Let not your unchristlike character misrepresent Jesus. Do not keep the little ones away from Him by your coldness and harshness. Never give them cause to feel that heaven would not be a pleasant place to them if you were there….

Do not give them the false impression that the religion of Christ is a religion of gloom, and that in coming to the Saviour they must give up all that makes life joyful.

As the Holy Spirit moves upon the hearts of the children, co-operate with His work. Teach them that the Saviour is calling them, that nothing can afford Him greater joy than for them to give themselves to Him in the bloom and freshness of their years.

The Saviour regards with infinite tenderness the souls whom He has purchased with His blood. They are the claim of His love. He looks upon them with unutterable longing.—The Ministry of Healing, 41-44.
With God at Dawn p. 76
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Annie. She is still leaking spinal fluid and her doctor is on vacation for two weeks. They will not see her until after then. Please pray that they will reconsider. Pray also for insurance issues. Rose
—-Please pray for my brother, CHARLIE & his wife RUBI . Both tested positive for Covid -19, and are admitted to the _____ Adventist Medical Center in _______. Becky
—-David is depressed and angry. Please pray that God will heal him. Pray also for his family that they will be safe. Buck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

When I was seven, my mother and George, a boyfriend she met at work, took me with them to go swimming at his house on one of the many lakes in the Kalamazoo area. I was excited! I loved going to the beach even though I did not know how to swim. All of the time we spent in the house visiting with his mother, seemed like an eternity. All I could think of was that invitingly cool water I could see through the window.

Finally, the formalities were over and George, my mother, and I headed for the beach. It wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be, however. They left me to play around in the shallows while they went out into the deep water. They were having fun, but I soon tired of being alone with nothing to do. Looking out across the water, I decided that I would walk out to where my mother was. This was a shallow lake and although my mother was quite a long way from shore, the water was not very deep. I could tell that she was standing. My mother was not a strong swimmer.

Fearlessly, I started walking toward them. Suddenly I found myself completely underwater. I had stepped into a large dropoff. I had not even had time to shut my eyes and I remember that the bright sunshine made the water that enveloped me a yellow-green. A fish swam by. I was not afraid. Fascinated, I looked at it. Everything seemed so unreal and pleasurable, that I did not even realize my danger. I just held my breath and looked around. I must have held it a little too long, for the next thing I remember was being on the shore and gasping for breath. Thankfully, George had looked toward the shore and had seen me disappear from view. He suddenly remembered the huge hole and knew instantly what had happened. He was an excellent swimmer and soon had reached the place where he had last seen me. It did not take him long to find me and drag me to shore.

Every day we meet people who are looking around at the allurements of sin and walk headlong into them not realizing that they are walking into a trap: a trap that they cannot get out of by themselves. They do not know that “(their) adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 They don’t realize that he has set many traps to capture them. They think they are enjoying life and having fun. Suddenly, without warning, everything begins to go terribly wrong. They find themselves in too deep to extricate themselves. They want to be free, but they are held too tightly. They feel like their very life is being snuffed out. They need someone to save them out of their danger.

Jesus bids us to rescue them just as quickly as George rescued me on that long-ago day. He bids us, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:19,20 He has promised to be with us as we follow this command. “Brethren, if any…do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19,20 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 21-25

Rose