Nor Too Young

Last week I wrote about Sarah who had a baby at the unlikely age of ninety. When God told her she would have a child she laughed, thnking she was too old. But God proved her wrong. God's actions have always defied human logic. He is no respecter of persons. If He says a ninety-year-old lady is going to have a son, it will happen, and if He says "a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son" (Isaiah 7: 14), then that's the way it's going to be.

The Bible does not tell us Mary's age, but we know that she was young, engaged to be married and that she did conceive and give birth to the Savior of the world. What an honor! There are some who disbelieve the virgin birth. Then they would have to disbelieve Sarah's story and Elizabeth's story. Elizabeth was Mary's cousin who was already pregnant with her first child, John the Baptist, when the angel first appeared to Mary. They would also have to disbelieve that God called Samuel when he was a young boy serving under Eli in the temple (1 Samuel 3: 4-10). Samuel went on to become a mighty prophet of God who anointed King Saul and King David.

Jesus Himself at the tender age of twelve, astonished the doctors in the temple by listening to them and asking them questions(Luke 2: 46-47). And when He began His ministry, He made a point of blessing the children who were in His presence. On one occasion "he called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18: 2-3). In the next chapter we see His disciples rebuking the people who had brought their children to Jesus for Him to pray for them. "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (19: 14).

What are we doing with the children that God has entrusted to our care? Are we encouraging them to be all that God created them to be? Are we bringing them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord? Are we training them in the way they should go: so when they are old, they would not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)? God can use anyone He chooses to do His will, whether old or young. Let us be open to His leading in our lives and the lives of our children.