For God so LOVED, that he GAVE his SON (John 3:16) . We learn from this highlight that as you love giving comes naturally.
We see this “Love” as the most important characteristic of God. I will put it this way, we are created to be like our Creator.
To fulfill our part on this earth we need to be always ready to love, give and be ready for action. We need to be able to make sacrifices in order to do our part in missionary service. We all know the events that saw Christ dying for us on the cross of Calvary, what a sorrowful day it was, for you, for me and the entire human race.
We are in a WAR, Christ, our hero came and conquered. He showed us the way a true soldier ought to fight. The battle was already won and on from Calvary we stand and fight the enemy. Our job now is to defend and retain what is rightfully ours.
“God wants all the children and youth to join his army. The children have as strong temptations to meet, on the right hand and on the left, as do the older soldiers. Satan and his legions will work every device to ensnare the young. It is the privilege of the children to enlist in the army of the Lord and seek to persuade others to join their ranks. Children must be educated and trained for Jesus Christ. They must be trained to resist temptation and to fight the good fight of faith. Direct their minds to Jesus as soon as they can comprehend your lessons in simple words, easy to be understood. Teach them self control. Teach them to begin the work of overcoming when young and they will receive the precious help that Jesus can and will give, connected with prayerful efforts of parents. Cheer them on with encouraging words for the battles they fight in resisting temptation and coming off conquerors through grace given them of Jesus Christ.” TMK, p42.
We should not neglect our roles as parents to train our children for service. These children are on loan to us, God will require us at the end of life’s history to give an account, and after all, all loans need be returned back with interest right? What is your account going to show? I pray no one will be found bankrupt.
Soldiers need to be TEMPERANT (fit for service), Are you watching what your child is eating? Is your child dressing as he/she should? What are you letting your child watch on telly? Are you taking time to teach your child how to love their enemies? The list goes on and on.
God has a standard for his soldiers, let not the world brain wash us to think we can do whatever we want to do, worship however we please, eat, drink without following his guidance.
Not following combat instructions will only lead to failure and capture by the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8, the devil is on the lookout seeking whom he may devour. God never changes, he is the same yesterday today and forever. We are to teach our children that God can never be modernized or humanized as he is what he was from the beginning, we are the ones to adjust and seek him at his word.Watered down Christian standards, compromised lifestyles and intemperance will never make our children great soldiers. We need our children to be separate from the world and be raised the way Christ was raised, that is if we need them to have a Christ like character.
True soldiers do not question orders they are given in the word, or want to reason what the Holy Spirit has set out, they hasten to obey. If we as parents do not sacrifice time to mold our children’s character, the world will.
“The angels of God are ever near your little ones. Let love and tenderness, patience and self-control, be at all times the law of your speech. Winning love is to be like deep waters, ever flowing forth in the management of your children. All through His life, Christ performed acts of love and tenderness for the children.” TMK p42.
“The children and youth, with their fresh talent, energy, and courage, their quick susceptibilities, are loved of God, and He desires to bring them into harmony with divine agencies. They are to obtain an education that will help them to stand by the side of Christ in unselfish service. “Of all His children to the close of time, no less than of the first disciples, Christ said, "As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world" (John 17:18), to be representatives of God, to reveal His Spirit, to manifest His character, to do His work”. MH p396.
“Parents should hang in memory's hall the precious sayings of Christ. The children will repeat the words they hear often on the parents' lips, of Christ, and faith, and truth. Precious truth may be spoken by children. Whole armies of children may come under Christ's banner as missionaries, even in their childhood years. Never repulse the desire of children to do something for Jesus. Never quench their ardor for working in some way for the Master. Children rightly educated will learn to love Jesus and to grieve if they think they have grieved the Savior by any sin committed by them. Keep their hearts tender and sensitive by your own words and example.” TMK p42
Let this be our only aim and prayer, always striving to raise mighty arrows for the Savior.
This article was written by Joyce Dube Mufudza. Thank you for sharing your heart with us today Joyce!
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