Blessing the Children
439
Let not your un-Christlike 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 will not be a pleasant place
to them if you are 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 give 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 own 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-behaved children, but to those who have by inheritance
objectionable traits of character. Many parents do not understand how
much they are responsible for these traits in their children. They have
not the tenderness and wisdom to deal with the erring ones whom they
have made what they are. But Jesus looks upon these children with
pity. He traces from cause to effect.
The Christian worker may be Christ’s agent in drawing these chil-
dren to the Saviour. By wisdom and tact he may bind them to his heart,
he may give them courage and hope, and through the grace of Christ
may see them transformed in character, so that of them it may be said,
“Of such is the kingdom of God.”
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