Let the Little Ones Come unto Me
By Mrs. O. E. Cummings
“Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” How many parents have read these verses carefully, studied their real meaning, and found the duties they point out? Christ says “suffer,” or let, or permit, the children to come unto him. We are to do nothing that will in any way hinder them from coming to Christ,—“and forbid them not.” We are never to discourage one of the least of God’s children when trying to obey or work for him. Now if we neither hinder nor discourage them, we shall certainly do all in our power to lead them to their Creator. We often hear parents say that their children do not seem to enjoy hearing the Scriptures read to them, or that they fail to interest their children in Bible truths. This condition of things ought not to exist. How can it if we have ourselves obeyed the commands of God to us in behalf of teaching our children from infancy? “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 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.” When Moses was instructing Joshua concerning the law, he said, “Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law.” Joshua did as Moses commanded, as recorded in Joshua 8:35. He did not say, Mothers, let your children stay at home, but even the “little ones” came to hear the law of Moses. We often see parents come to meeting, leaving their children at home, thinking that they cannot understand what is said, and that the only place they can learn anything is in the Sabbath school, where they are often sent without being taught the lesson at home, the parents excusing themselves by saying, “It is the teacher’s duty to do this in the class.” Our children are the lambs, and we are the sheep, of the Lord’s pasture. Christ’s charge to Peter was, “Feed my lambs.” What Christ said to his disciples then, he addressed to all his followers in all ages. Parents, we “need to understand that God desires us to educate, discipline, and train our children.” We should be “ministers of righteousness in the home.” God can fit children to be missionaries for him. He wants to do this work through us. Shall we let him? “How shall we do it?” I hear some one say. The Word of God answers: “He shall teach you all things.” “Christ . . . is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption;” and “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for . . . instruction in righteousness.” Every time we read the word “righteousness,” let us read it “right-doing.” How happy we should be that to us is intrusted the glorious work of teaching our children the way of righteousness! and how thankful for the Word of God, which contains the precious truths to be taught, and the promise that Christ will be our teacher. Let us so live before our children, and so instruct them, that when God asks, “Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?” we may answer, “Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me.” “I think, when I read that sweet story
of old,
When Jesus was here among men,
How he called little children as lambs
to his fold,
I should like to have been with them
then.
I wish that his hands had been placed
on my head,
That his arms had been thrown
around me,
And that I might have seen his kind
look when he said,
‘Let the little ones come unto me.’ ‘Yet still to the Saviour in prayer I
may go,
And ask for a share in his love.
And if I thus earnestly seek him be-
low,
I shall see him and hear him above.
In that beautiful place he has gone to
prepare
For all who are washed and for-
given,
O, may we at last find a glad welcome
there,
Safe at home in the kingdom of
heaven!’