Some people are still suffering from colds and the flu. We hope and pray that these people will recover quickly in the strength of the Lord.

when I visited the Holy Land, as most of you know, I hand a chance to climb up Mount Sinai. That morning, I had to get up as early as two in the morning! Of course, it was dark, and I wondered if the camels would be able to see. The camels were owned by certain businessmen, who charged tourists a fee for riding on them. But, among these men were some children. In walking along the path that took us up the mountain, I realized how comforting it was to be walking with children. Children are special. I felt released and at peace with them, especially at a time when I was somewhat depressed and exhausted.

Mt.11:16,17. Jesus said that the behaviour of the people was like the kind of play that children regularly did. Playing "house" is universal! In this example, they were playing "wedding" and "funeral". In playing, children repeated certain words and actions that they saw in Judea, and the rest would copy. In associating with this play of children, Jesus expressed how the Israelites were behaving in response to what He said or did. They were copying Him, or reacting to Him, but they did not understand! They didn't have spiritual "ears" to hear with.

As you know, we have faced a complex situation in Japan; something is happening in the souls of our children. Boys are acting out in violence towards their own mothers. In many cases, fathers are doing nothing about it. But the Bible tells us this: love your wife! [Ep.5:33] To raise children, you need to love your wife! A certain boy had been beating up his mother. But, one day, his father told him to stop it. He said, "She is his mother!" Which was very true. But he continued, saying, "She is also my wife, and my woman to protect and love through my life." Then he warned his son, "If you attack her again, you will be forcing me to attack you with vengeance!" His son understood, and stopped it immediately. We can find answers for anything in the Bible; on raising children, marriage, loving others, etc.

Luke 19:39, and Matthew 19:14. At our earlier morning worship service, which we hold at Grace Chapel, there are two little children who run around the sanctuary throughout the service. Their mothers are always very anxious. But, I believe, Jesus would accept them and hold them in His arms. In Japan, there is a certain Christian ministry that calls themselves "Children of the Stars." This is a mission for dying children. People in this group have devoted themselves to the precious work of attending to the needs of these children. Most of those very sick children accept Jesus as their Saviour before they die. Some people ask can the children really understand the Gospel, and accept Christ?! Yes -- they can! They really understand! Last week, a letter was sent to me from a lady who used to attend the Sunday School of Chapel Noah a few years ago. She would always faithfully take her children to our Chapel Noah services. Now she lives with her family in Tokyo, and still attends a church and sunday school there. Last year, her younger ten year old daughter accepted Jesus and was baptized. In her letter she wished to thank all of the teachers of Sunday School at Chapel Noah for guiding her child directly to Christ!

A few weeks ago, one of our Sunday School children came up to me and told me that she wanted to be baptised on Easter. Her eyes were shining like stars! I had never seen her like that before. She is only nine. Her christian mother had been praying for her, and received these words: "Let the little children come to me!" [Mt.19:14]

Read John 6:1-13. The little boy must have been excited to see Jesus! So he asked his mother to prepare him some lunch, and off he went. He was pure and simple enough to offer that lunch to Andrew. An adult might of hesitated, in fact, I think the adults did hesitate. The lunch was very little. It was enough for a boy. But, the boy didn't think about such things, he just wanted to offer what he had to Jesus! Children don't hesitate. They don't think too deeply about the results of their actions before they do them. When listening to Jesus, and doing His will, we need to be just like these children, openly showing our faith in our Lord.

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
For another sermon see: Oita Evangelical Christ Church
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