A birthday to remember

My nephew, Jesse, just turned 7. He is a very typical seven year old in many ways. He loves to laugh and play with his brothers and friends. He loves to learn (he knows all the names of all the presidents and where they fit in chronological order) and sing and draw. But he also loves to read. He devours books.

Anyway, Jesse's birthday was celebrated last Saturday. He received many fun gifts, but the last gift he opened was a Bible.This was his favorite gift of all. He told his parents later that day out of all the good gifts he had received, the Bible was the very best. He had to know where he could begin reading, and so he began to read God's word on his own from his very own Bible.

How did Jesse come to desire God's word? Out of all the things that would thrill a little guy, how is it a Bible would thrill him so? We trust it is because of the gracious activity of God in his heart. We do not seek after God unless God seeks after us first. God seeks us through the work of the Holy Spirit and through other means. God uses nature to declare the His glories, and God uses parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, pastors, children's ministry teachers, (and aunts and uncles, cousins and the 60,70 80+ year old man, woman or couple who faithfully sits under the word of God in the public worship - don't think these little ones don't notice you!) and more to declare the excellencies of Christ. Prayer, teaching, preaching, daily instruction and an example to follow are all used by God to work in a child's heart to bring them to faith.

Is God's word valued in your home? Do your children see you treasuring the Bible? Do they see you reading it? Do they hear you talk about it? Do they see you live it? Do they see you get excited about going to worship so that you can sing the truths of God's word and hear it preached by those appointed to study and proclaim it? Do they hear you apply God's word to your instruction, your counsel, your discipline and your care?

Moms cannot simply leave this responsibility to the father. Your children's father may not believe God's word is truth. Your children's father may not cherish God's word. Your children's father may be neglecting His responsibility to lead his family to God's word. But that does not remove you from responsibility.

The Apostle Paul tell us Timothy was taught by his mother Lois and grandmother Eunice. God used these women to plant the seeds of truth in a young man. The Holy Spirit tenderly watered those seeds of truth and brought about Timothy's salvation and call to ministry. Besides this example, we also learn from Proverbs that a mother is to have an active role in giving godly instruction to her child(ren) (Proverbs 1:8, 6:20, 31:26)

I pray that the children we encounter will be able to tell that we love God and His word, and this will stir them to love Him as well.