Our Need and That of Our Children

“I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth,

as we have received a commandment from the Father.” (2 John 1:4)

I rejoiced greatly that I found... - The apostle expresses his joy in having learned that the one to whom he writes not only was the LORD’s but also some of her children. We know that the LORD does not owe salvation to any of our children, just because He has revealed Christ in a parent or parents.

Of thy children walking in truth... - The expression used here, "of thy children" means some of thy children; implying that he knew of a part of them who were the LORD’s but not all. This also expresses what we know is true in how God deals with families. Some may be chosen, redeemed and called but others not. Romans 9:13: “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

There are times when those who are interested in visiting our congregation will ask, ‘What does your church offer the young people?’ My response is always the same: “We serve the same food to the young people as we do the adults. We all feed on the same Spiritual Manna, which is the LORD Jesus Christ.” [1 Corinthians 10:3]

In the Bible there were no separate programs for children. They were to attend worship with their parents and if they had any questions about the meaning they were to ask them. Believing parents were to instruct their children in the home, Deut. 6:7. Timothy did not learn the Gospel in a separate program for children. He learned from his mother and grandmother, 2 Tim. 1:5. His father was either an unbeliever or no longer a part of the family but he learned the Gospel as a child from two in the household that the LORD had taught.

The church gathered is a church united around the Word and in fellowship, Acts 2:42. Children were not separated off in hives of their own. Families came and worshipped together. Our children will learn by observation what true worship is, what the Gospel is and the importance of hearing the Word. Parents can also help them look up the verses and follow along together. The same is true with singing the hymns, Ephesians 5:19-21.

The needs of a child are the same as the adult. Where better than sitting in worship alongside the adults to hear that they are wretched sinners and that God alone can save them? They need to hear through the preaching of the Gospel how that salvation was accomplished by Christ’s blood shed unto death and the righteousness imputed by the Father at the cross, Romans 5:9-11.

If we care for the souls of our children, we will desire for them to hear the Word preached and teach them by our own attentiveness to the Word. We do well to place them and ourselves under the preaching of Christ as often as God gives us opportunity.