In His Name Devotionals
ONE UNSATISFIED DESIRE
In His Name Devotionals
ONE UNSATISFIED DESIRE
“And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.” (Luke 1:7)
This seems to have been the one great trouble in the lives of Zacharias and Elizabeth; both in heart and desire. To have no children was a trial deeply felt in Israel, (1) because it cut off all hope of the birth of the Messiah in that family; and (2) it was a great misfortune in itself. We can hardly realize how great a sorrow such misfortunes are to Eastern women, i.e., a son is affection, support, position. A family without children misses much. The care and training of children is one of the best possible ways of training the older people in the whole list of virtues and graces. It is hard for any person to become his or her best without personal contact with the minds of children.
Without a doubt, the birth of John the Baptist gave Zacharias and Elizabeth great joy, as well as a deeper appreciation of God’s unending love. And we can only assume that their lives were filled with a burning love for John that surely demonstrated itself in training him in the commands of and love of Jehovah.
Occasionally older folks say, “The worse youngsters usually turn out to be the best and strongest adults.” This is a dangerous concept or thought, a moral heresy and not true in the form usually spoken. It is true that overflowing life in a child is a good sign. But the only way to make the best and strongest adult from the child of overflowing, restless activity is by training in self-control and guidance toward worthy channels, i.e., filled with the spirit of love, courtesy and obedience.
While the home is the best place to train up a child in the ways of God, Sunday morning Bible school is without a doubt one of the greatest blessings of the church, especially for the spiritual development of children. The greatest factor in the life of the church is the child. It gives those who have no children an opportunity to be with and around children, as their teachers, friends and companions. Every such faithful Christian should beseech the leaders of the church to provide a chance to teach children; small classes provide many an opportunity to teach. God skimmed the church and put the cream into Bible school; faithful teaching in Bible school can turn skim-milk into cream.
Let us always be willing to do everything within our power to continue and maintain Sunday morning Bible school, if for no other reason than to help in the spiritual training of our children.
A motto over the gate of a playground in London, England reads, “No admission for adults unless accompanied by children.”
