Faith of a Child

One of our greatest desires in life after we become a child of God is to see our own children come to that place of decision for Jesus Christ in their own lives. This devotional’s purpose is that parents and others who affect the lives of children will be better equipped and more confident to lead their children to a real relationship with Jesus (9).

Questions to consider with regard to the salvation of our children.

-How can we know if a child is ready to become a Christian?

-How much does a child have to know? How much are they required to understand?

-At what age are children mature enough to make this commitment?

-When should we start explaining the gospel to our children?

-What must a child do to become a Christian?

-How much should we be involved in a child’s decision?

-When should a child be baptized?

-What is the purpose of baptism?

-What can churches do to help raise children to follow the Lord?

-What help should churches provide for children who have expressed a desire to become Christians?

-Should the church leave a child’s decision to become a Christian completely up to the child and his/her parents?

-What should we do when a very young child wants to become a Christian (10)?

The answers to these questions will be dealt with in our upcoming devotional series. I hope you will tune in!

Our goal should not be “How early can we get this child to make a decision to follow Christ?” Our goal should be “What can we do to help this child want to follow the Lord and make a lifelong commitment to Him (13)?”

Leading a child to Christ should be viewed as a journey through the stages of their development and levels of understanding.

We should consider ourselves as shepherds in regard to our concern for our little ones. A shepherd does not ignore his little lambs (15). They deserve extra special care and attention, instruction and protection.

Psalm 127:3-5a says, “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” Our children are a tremendous blessing to be cherished, nurtured, and strengthened in the admonition of the Lord. It is my prayer that we will all become stronger as we learn together through the Holy Spirit’s leading.

With help from:

Art Murphy, The Faith of a Child: A Step-by-Step Guide to Salvation for your Child, Chicago: Moody Press, 2000.