HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO … ?

HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO … ?

Have you ever thought the Bible must be only for adults because you couldn’t understand what it is saying when you read it? I would invite you to take a closer look … you would discover that God’s mentions kids a lot in the Bible!

· The word child is found 121 times in the Bible.
· Children is found 448 times.
· Childhood is found 4 times.
· Son is found more than 2700 times (not including that Jesus is called the Son of God).
· Baby and words referring to very small children occur 24 times.
· Father is used more than 1,200 times (not including references to God as father).
· Mother is used almost 400 times.
· Brother or sister is used more than 2300 times.
· The Bible uses family –related words more than 8,000 times.

It seems that the Bible must be for both adults AND kids!

Have you not noticed that the Bible also tells of many leaders who were called by God as kids? Samuel, for instance, first heard the voice of God as a child. King David said, “Since my youth, O God, you have taught me.” Joshua was only seven years old when he became king of Judah. And he was one of only eight good kings in that nation’s history. Josiah was only eight years old when he became king and he is also among the eight good kings of Judah. Jesus praised His heavenly Father for revealing truths to little children (Matthew 11:25). One of Paul’s best helpers what Timothy, who knew the Scriptures from infancy (2 Timothy 3:15). Jesus was greatly upset at the disciples for not letting children come to Him (Mark 10:10-14).

A famous evangelist named Gypsy Smith once said, “Save a man and you save a unit; save a boy and you save a multiplication table.” Many great men of God also came to Christ as children. Count Zinzendorg, who started a 100 years prayer meeting and founded a great missions movement came to Christ when he was four years old. Jonathan Edwards, a great preacher , came to faith to faith in Christ when he was seven years old. Charles Spurgeon, a famous British preacher, trusted Christ when he was 12 years old.

How old do you have to be to hear the voice of God or serve God? You can hear the voice of God through the Bible at an early age, come to faith in Jesus Christ as an early age, and attempt great things for God at an early age.

The Scriptures are full of examples that show us this. History tells us the same thing.

So don’t wait to serve God until you are a teenager or an adult. Come to Christ NOW, Love God NOW, serve God NOW! … you are in for the best adventure of your life!

Peace,

Rev. Dr. Gordon Myers