Sadly, in our culture, many schools, books, and movies teach an anti-God agenda. Some children have been deceived, and they’re confused, depressed, and even suicidal. God offers hope and peace through Christ. If children don’t have the Holy Spirit, and we don’t teach them God’s Word, they’ll be victims of Satan’s lies.
I was five when Mrs. Raffa invited the neighborhood children to her Good News Club. She taught Bible stories and explained who Jesus is and what He did. I understood I was a sinner, and Jesus died for my sins. The day I received Christ was the best day of my life. Years later my husband and I taught Good News Clubs to many children.
“I’m not too little!” five-year-old Michael shouted after I explained the gospel in one Good News Club we taught. Michael ran to me before the other children could move. He told me he tried to get saved in church, but they said he was too little. As we talked, I realized that he understood the gospel better than many adults I’d spoken with. That day, he received Jesus.
Some Christians are reluctant to share the gospel with young children. However, Jesus said “…Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4
Why is it easier for children to be saved than for adults? Young children are humble, and adults must become humble to trust in Christ to save them. Also, little children haven’t been deceived by false religions, and they aren’t yet in bondage to sinful lifestyles.
Many Christians teach Bible stories and Christian songs to children. They teach them to behave like Christians, and that’s important. But we must teach them how to become Christians before we teach them how to behave like Christians.
Nicodemus knew the laws and traditions of his faith. However, that wasn’t enough. Jesus said, “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:1-3
People need to understand the gospel and receive Christ to be born again. Before we’re saved, we don’t have the Holy Spirit. When we receive Jesus, we’re sealed by the Holy Spirit. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise…” Ephesians 1:13
Without the Holy Spirit we can’t understand Spiritual truth. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Corinthians 2:14
Paul wrote that Christ is the foundation for our faith. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 3:11
The first thing Paul taught people was the gospel. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” I Corinthians 15:3-4
We must build our faith on Christ and teach our children to do that too. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:15
Our salvation is a gift. “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
After we’re saved, God wants us to grow spiritually, and He expects us to do good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18
Eric was seven when he heard the gospel in our Good News Club. He understood it, believed in Jesus, and prayed to receive Christ. When he left Good News Club that day he knew he’d been forgiven of his sins, and he was a child of God. A few weeks later he stopped coming to the club. I heard that he was in the hospital, and he was very sick. When my husband and I visited him, we learned that he’d been diagnosed with an aggressive type of cancer. His eyes sparkled when he told us, “I’m not afraid to die. I’m going to live with Jesus.”
All children need Jesus, but in order for them to believe in Him, they need to hear the gospel in a way they can understand. Will you share the gospel with them?
The Most Fruitful Fields
Please take God’s Word to the hearts of the children.
How can they believe if they still haven’t heard?
The most fruitful fields have long been neglected.
You’ll find them waiting all over the world.
All Scripture is from the KJV
For information on Good News Clubs go to:
https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/goodnewsclub/
Thank you for this challenge and exhortation, Esther.
Thank you for your comment, Sue. I’m glad this was a blessing for you.
Amen! “Let the children come…Forbid them not.” 🙂
Amen! Thank you for your comment, Ellie.
Succinctly stated and supported with Scripture!! Thus saith the Lord!
Appreciate your heart and love for the Lord and for souls! Yes, children need to be reached early so they can live their life for the Lord, fulfilling His plan for their lives, and be spared the sorrows of living like the world!
Thank you, Donna. I’m grateful for your encouraging comment, and I’m blessed by your love for the Lord and for souls. May the Lord continue to bless you and your ministry.
When I was eleven years old, I heard a clear and direct presentation of the Gospel at a spiritual retreat for teens. The pre-teens from our Christian club had been invited.
Back in our dorm room, our counsellor expounded on what the preacher said. I understood clearly that without accepting the gift of salvation, I was headed for hell.
For me, the time of accountability was at age eleven. It’s not the same for everyone. If a child says they want to be saved, it sounds to me like they know what they’re talking about.
My pastor always talked to children for a while when they showed an interest in being saved. He made sure they understood what they were being saved from, and that they were sinners. No one can set an age minimum on salvation anymore than they can an age limit.
Praise God this young boy received Jesus as his Savior, although he didn’t need anyone else to help him get saved. But it’s always a privilege to lead anyone to the Throne of Grace. 🙂
Sharon, thank you for sharing your experience with us. I’m grateful you heard the gospel as a child, and I’m glad you understood it and trusted in Christ. It’s such a blessing when children receive Jesus and have their whole lives to live for the Lord!