Child Evangelism
Children Ready to Hear and Accept—In the children who were
brought in contact with Him, Jesus saw the men and women who
should be heirs of His grace and subjects of His kingdom, and some of
whom would become martyrs for His sake. He knew that these children
would listen to Him and accept Him as their Redeemer far more readily
than would grownup people, many of whom were the worldly-wise
and hardhearted. In teaching, He came down to their level. He,
the majesty of heaven, answered their questions and simplified His
important lessons to meet their childish understanding. He planted in
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their minds the seeds of truth, which in afteryears would spring up and
bear fruit unto eternal life.
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 speak of religion as something
that children cannot understand, or act as if they were not expected to
accept Christ in their childhood. 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. His heart is drawn out,
not only to the best-trained and most attractive children, but to those
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