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The Ministry of Health and Healing
the children, and He bids us, “Let them come,” as if He would say,
They will come if you do not hinder them. 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 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
Savior they must give up all that makes life joyful.
As the Holy Spirit moves upon the hearts of the children, coop-
erate with His work. Teach them that the Savior 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.
[20]
The Savior regards with infinite tenderness the souls whom He
has purchased with His blood. Because of His love, they are right-
fully His. 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 who have objectionable traits of character by inheritance
and through neglect. Many parents do not understand how much
they are responsible for these traits in their children. They lack 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.
Christian workers may be Christ’s agents in drawing these faulty
and erring ones to the Savior. By wisdom and tact they may bind
them to their hearts. They may give courage and hope, and through
the grace of Christ may see these children transformed in character,
so that it may be said of them, “Of such is the kingdom of God.”
Five Small Barley Loaves Feed the Multitude
All day the people had crowded around Christ and His disciples
as He taught beside the sea. They had listened to His gracious words,
so simple and so plain that they were as the balm of Gilead to their
souls. The healing of His divine hand had brought health to the sick
and life to the dying. The day had seemed to them like heaven on