“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6
Thirty years ago, I wrote the following words about children.
“God cares for children, and he tells me I am not to look down on them. Nor am I to hinder them in coming to Christ. It would be better, in fact, if I had never lived than cause a child of God to sin. I must therefore be very careful how I walk before children, how I advise them, and how I relate to them. A careful walk is especially necessary before my own children and grandchildren, over whom I have the most influence. I am encouraged, though, in Jesus’ promise that whatever I do for children in his name, I do for him. What an incentive for working with children!
Beyond that, I am to become like a child in faith, my trust in God is to be simple and complete. Jesus loves children. During his earthly ministry, he wanted them around, he hugged them and touched them to bless them. He protected them and wanted them to receive an inheritance.”
These words are true today as they were 30 years ago because Jesus said them (Luke 18:17; Matthew 18:1-4; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 19:13-14).
But that is not all he said. He said that “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6
How does that sound to those who are encouraging children in attempting to change their gender? Or selling them Fentanyl? And what about those who force children into human trafficking? God will judge those people. We can be sure of that.
We may not be involved in those activities that we know are harmful, but when we do not teach children right from wrong or allow them to grow up thinking only of themselves, that also causes them to sin.
The best way to keep children from sinning is to teach them what Jesus said in the Bible.
Doing that is not easy—especially to teenagers! I remember one time my daughters needed correction and I thought I was doing a pretty good job when finally one of them said, “Mom, why do you always quote the Bible? Why don’t you just talk straight to us?” Oh well --- !
But since Jesus said that whoever receives a child in his name receives him, I am thinking about the Rafiki Classical Academy (RCA) that Rafiki is in the process of starting. This RCA will start on September 5th and is located on the Rafiki Home Office grounds. It will be “receiving” children in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. They will be learning not only to read, but to read the Bible! They will read it every day!
If you want to know more about this school, visit their website www.rafikiclassicalacademy.org or contact Kelly Fore at kellyf@rafikifoundation.org or 352-483-9984.
Who knows, your community, your church, or YOU might want to be involved in starting a Christian classical school or teaching a Sunday School class or leading a Bible study or simply having family devotions every night.
Any way you can lead children toward Jesus and keep them from sinning will be blessed by God.
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