“Feed My Lambs”
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little strength to resist the tempter’s power. Be as patient with these
lambs of the flock as you wish others to be with you. God has so
constituted us that even the strongest desire sympathy. How much
more, then, do children need it! Even a look of compassion will often
soothe and strengthen the tried, tempted child.
Jesus calls to every wanderer, “My son, give Me thine heart.”
[
Proverbs 23:26
.] “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal
your backslidings.” [
Jeremiah 3:22
.] The youth cannot be truly happy
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without the love of Jesus. He is waiting with pitying tenderness to
hear the confessions of the wayward, and to accept their penitence.
He watches for some return of gratitude from them, as the mother
watches for the smile of recognition from her beloved babe. The great
God teaches us to call Him Father. He would have us understand how
earnestly and tenderly His heart yearns over us in all our trials and
temptations. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth
them that fear Him.” [
Psalm 103:13
.] The mother might sooner forget
her child than God could forget one soul that trusts Him.
The Youth to Act a Part in Church Work
When the youth give their hearts to God, our responsibility for them
does not cease. They must be interested in the Lord’s work, and led to
see that He expects them to do something to advance His cause. It is
not enough to show how much needs to be done, and to urge the youth
to act a part. They must be taught how to labor for the Master. They
must be trained, disciplined, drilled, in the best methods of winning
souls to Christ. Teach them to try in a quiet, unpretending way to help
their young companions. Let different branches of missionary effort
be systematically laid out, in which they may take part, and let them
be given instruction and help. Thus they will learn to work for God.
Do not imagine that you can arouse the interest of the young by
going to the missionary meeting and preaching a long sermon. Plan
ways whereby a live interest may be aroused. From week to week the
youth should bring in their reports, telling what they have tried to do
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for the Saviour, and what success has been theirs. If the missionary
meeting were made an occasion for bringing in such reports, it would
not be dull, tedious, and uninteresting. It would be full of interest, and
there would be no lack of attendance.