“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening” I Samuel 3:10.
Samuel was dedicated to God as an infant, and he grew up in a religious setting (although very corrupt) at the tabernacle. God called him when he was a young boy, and Samuel ran with that calling for his whole life.
I grew up in the church –thankfully they were populated by earnest wholehearted Christians – and accepted Jesus as my saviour as a young child at my mother’s knee. I accepted what I knew of Him – knowing that He loved me. There was much more to come in my spiritual walk toward maturity, but I point to that day as a little boy when I became a Christian. And in the end it has resulted in a 45-year pastoral ministry.
When did you accept Christ? As a teen or young adult? As an older adult? Interestingly, one American study showed that43% of Christians accept Christ before the age of 12. Childhood decisions can be lasting decisions! We do well to invest in outreach with children!
And so we spend much time and effort through the year in teaching our young people about salvation and the Christian walk. In the summer we send many kids to bible camp, and we just finished our annual soccer camp where children learn to play soccer and learn about the Christ of the bible.
So here’s my little challenge to you today. Would you pray through the last three weeks of the summer for children’s outreaches happening through our church and many other churches. Would you also pray especially for the young ones in your sphere of influence – your children, your grandchildren or maybe even your great grands!
Childhood decisions can be lasting decisions!
Pastor Leon Throness
Don’t forget the second Bible Book Club this Sunday at 9 am in the Coffee Connection. We will take 45 minutes to chat together about these four questions as we have been systematically studying the bible:
-What am I learning about God’s character?
-How am I seeing Jesus through my reading?
-How is my reading helping me to understand the grand narrative of scripture?
-What is my time in the Word doing in my life to change me?
