"And Jesus said,

suffer little children, and forbid them not,

to come unto me." (Matthew 19:14)

Children are precious to the Lord.

He is moved by their helpless dependence,

and their simple childlike faith.

Children aren't too "strong" to cry out for help,

or to be carried when they are weak.

They are dependant upon the strength of another

for their simple daily needs,

so ought we to be dependant upon the Lord.

God's heart is moved with  compasssion

when He sees a little one

struggling to carry a heavy load.

He longs to help.

"Heavy"...the child says admitting his weakness.

God's heart is moved with compassion,

Tenderly, He  bends down to lift it's "heavy" load

from beneath the dimpled hands.

The child smiles admiringly,

his eyes seemingly to say,

"I am weak but You, are strong."

Jesus says,

Unless you come as a little child

you cannot see the kingdom of Heaven."

Childlike faith is believing God, because God said it.

Sin is doing what you want, even though God said not to.

Remember the story of Adam and Eve in the garden?

God told Adam and Eve

not to eat of the tree in the garden

or they would surely die.

He wanted to protect them, and keep them from harm.

Of all the fruit they could eat,

this one sure looked inviting.

Even though God told her not to eat of it,

she decided to listen to satan instead.

Eve ate of it, and gave it to Adam,

he ate of the apple too.

They sinned when they disobeyed God.

They hid from Him, when they heard His voice

calling from the garden.

Sometimes children, do you disobey your parents

and do what they told you not to do?

Maybe your mother said,

"don't eat a cookie till after dinner."

You listened to her and understood,

... but the cookies smelled so good.

And although a little voice inside said not to,

a little hand slips into the cookie jar.

Stealing  one....

and then another and another...

till your belly begins to be ache.

How you wished you listened to your mother.

In disobeying her, you disobeyed God.

Dear little one,

Just like that child

have you disobeyed God

and broke God's law?

The breaking of God's law

shows you that you are a sinner,

and that you need His forgiveness.

Sin is important to God,

He can't just let it slip by, and go unnoticed.

God sent His Son,

to die on the cross

to forgive you of your sins.

He took your punishment,

that you were deserving of.

He will forgive you of your sins

and have a relationship with you,

if you ask Him to.

Come to Him in child like faith,

His arms are open to accept you.

The first ABC block to being saved is to:

A-   Admit that you are a sinner

         that you have broken God's law.

The scriptures says,

"For we have all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God."(Romans 8:23)

The second block is to:

B-  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world,

that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life."

The third block is to:

C-   Call upon the name of the Lord.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved."(Romans 10:13)

Your Salvation is a gift from God...

Though it is free to you,

it cost Jesus His life.

His gift  of Salvaton is offered to you tonight

if you will receive Him.

Come as a child, with nothing to offer

but faith in Him alone.

His offer is open to all who will believe.

The Scriptures says,

"For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2: 8&9)

When a gift is offered,

it only becomes your when you receive it.

Just like it is a gift offered form a loved one.

God loves the little children, and so does grandma.

When a child receives a gift from grandma,

did they do anything to earn it?

No, it was a gift,

a gift given from grandma because she loves them.

The only thing the child has to do

is to receive it,

then the gift became theirs.

So is Salvation given

to all who will receive.

May I ask you tonight,

will you receive God's gift to you?

If you would like a personal relationship with Christ

and His gift of Salvation,

you could begin by praying  a prayer

similiar to this,

Dear Jesus,

"I am a sinner.

I broke God's law

and I am sorry.

Please forgive me for my sins.

I believe Jesus died

on the cross

to forgive my sins.

I confess you

as my Lord

and Savior.

Thank you for your gift.

In Jesus name, amen."