The Power Of Finding Jesus In Your Youth

The hymn “My Jesus, I love Thee” was written in 1864 by Willam Ralph Featherston. It was shortly after he became a believer. He wrote “I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.” This powerful song was not written by someone who had a lifetime to draw from. It was thought to be a devotional he wrote at just 12 or 16.

The other day I started to think about my two girls one day going to Christian camp. Not just any Christian camp, but Camp Shiloh, the one I attended as a youth and later a counselor. I started to get choked up just thinking about it. At camp is where I really solidified my walk with the Lord. I was excited thinking about the possibilities. I also was reminded of the great task and duty I have as their parent. It is my responsibility and I’d argue, my greatest responsibility, to pave the way for them, constantly pointing them to Jesus.

Proverbs 22:6 “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” It is my example that will help shape their earliest thoughts and feelings on God and point them toward or away from Him.

Matthew 19:13-15 says “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.”

There are three distinct things that happened in these three verses.

Scripture doesn’t say the parents were seeking a miracle. It just simply says they brought their children to Jesus. We bring our kids to Jesus not because we need Him to “do something”, but because we recognize who Jesus is. John 14:6 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

The disciples scolded the parents.

Sometimes even seasoned believers forget the youth. These 12 disciples walked with Jesus 24/7 and should have known how Jesus would have responded. Instead all they saw was “just children”. Maybe in their minds, they weren’t worth Jesus’ time. Acts 10:34 “Peter began to speak: “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.” Who am I to limit who God can use? Who am I to put an age requirement on be used by the Lord?

Jesus welcomed the children and rebuked the disciples.

He blessed them, casting down the prejudice of even His closest followers. Just as Jesus blessed those children, I am to bless mine. Psalm 127:3 “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” They are not a burden, but a gift from God and I should treat them as such.

One day I was finishing praying with my 1 month old when I said “In Jesus name. Amen.” My toddler chimed in saying "Amen!", clapping and shouting. She was in the room playing and I thought not listening. I gleaned from that that when you think they aren’t listening, they are. When you think they aren’t paying attention, they are. It’s our job to point those little eyes, ears, and hearts to Jesus. We are laying a foundation for them to build on. You never know what future hymn they will compose, or sermon they will preach. Whatever great things they do for God, their age should never be a factor.