Little Children May Be Christians

Dear Friends,
Before I started working full time, I used to enjoy going to yard sales. Since some people would sell items that were nearly new but no longer used, I could often find some real bargains. One day when my children were still in grade school, I noticed a microscope still in its box amongst a multitude of toys at this one yard sale. Since Ronnie Jay was interested in nature and science, he would be thrilled with such a gift. As I paid for it, the lady gave me another box containing slides that had already been prepared with various objects for our viewing. I was excited! This would make Ronnie Jay so happy!
As soon as I showed them my find, my children were immediately interested and crowded around the table as I got it set up. It was not long until I realized that I needed a better light source. Finding a patch of sunlight, I moved the microscope to it. We were all amazed as we looked at all of the prepared slides. It was like opening up a new world. Soon the prepared slides were left behind as we began looking at other things nearby. Water from the fish tank or from the faucet was the most interesting (We had well water.). We enjoyed watching various microscopic creatures swimming around in that tiny drop of water. I took a tiny piece of greenery from the aquarium and placed in on a slide. For the next few minutes we watched with interest a miniature creature that looked much like a sea anemone with a fixed base and tiny “arms” that moved and filtered food. A minuscule “bear” swam by. He was almost cute. We were delighted!
For a while, we played with that microscope every day, but as time passed, we became interested in other things. Eventually, it ended up in Ronnie Jay’s toy box and no one missed it. A year or two later, I happened to see it there and set it up again. It kept our interest for awhile, but in a few days it had again disappeared. So it was over the years. We would discover it in some out of the way place, play with it for a few minutes, promise ourselves that we would bring it out more often, and then tuck it away only to forget it again.
Just so, the privilege of prayer is as sadly neglected as that microscope. We poor mortals go through life with scarcely a thought Heavenward. Routinely, we hurry through a prayer in the morning, before meals, or at worship time without really thinking of our words. Think of it! We have the privilege of communing with the Great King of the Universe, the Creator of all things yet we sadly neglect Him. How this must break His Great Heart of Love.
What blessings are waiting for the asking, yet we get so wrapped up in our “own little world” that we begin to shut our Greatest Treasure away on a “shelf” somewhere. Our Loving Father in Heaven listens to us as intently as if we were His only child. He promises, “whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matt 7:7,8;21:22 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:4-7
How important that we heed the warnings in the Scriptures against neglecting to read and heed all that is contained therein. Moses’ warning to the children of Israel is applicable to us today, “Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.” Deu 8:11-17
Paul reminds us, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor 10:11 “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip….How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb 2:1,3 The True Witness reminds us of our danger, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:15-21
The earnest prayers lifted up in faith throughout the day, the daily study of God’s Word, the heart filled with love and gratitude, the reflection of our Dear Saviour’s image in our life are what God desires to see in us. He Who gave His only begotten Son for us, longs for our fellowship, for our love, for our gratitude. How sad it makes Him to be neglected daily, yet appealed to only when we are in trouble. He longs to be a part of our good times as well. May we no longer neglect our Greatest Treasure. May we be able to declare as did David, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Ps 55:17
Rose