Leckieville Freewill Baptist Church

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Children

06/04/2006 Brother Adam Dotson

Billy Graham, Albert Einstein, Charles Manson, and Mother Theresa all have something in common: They were once children. The influences of childhood sculpted who they became as adults.  Pick up an autobiography, skim through the pages and you will most likely find a narrative of childhood days. Some of the documented memories will be glorious and some will be tragic.  Some will be carefree and some will tell of great burdens.  Whatever the memory, one thing is for certain – those days are etched into the person.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Sitting in the pew next to you, standing in the checkout line behind you, riding their bike in front of your house may be one of the world’s future leaders. How would you like them to lead? With compassion and kindness?  Then show them compassion and kindness today.  With great wisdom?  Teach them of the knowledge you possess, it does not have to be from a textbook – wisdom comes from living wisely. 

Deuteronomy 6:7 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

What is God commanding to be taught both day and night? What words were so important, the Creator wanted them talked about every day? What words could be so life changing? The greatest commandment: Deut 6:5”And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Nothing I write could add to the importance of these words, but if I can focus your attention on just two words of that verse for a moment.  Love and all.  When interacting with children we must keep these two in mind.  Always and I mean always treat children with love.  Teach them from your heart. Lead them from your heart. Guide them from your heart.  Always give children your all.  If we portray half-heartedness is good enough to get by, then we can expect no better from them.