​Some of the most sobering words from the lips of our Lord are these:  “…Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”  (Mark 10:14c, d)  The children referenced by the Lord would have been those of adults that made up the crowds of people following Jesus.  They were a random group of children with differing ages, differing skin colors, and certainly not children of privilege.  But they were children loved by Jesus who desired that they come to Him.  

​The passage raises this question which every parent should answer:  When have I brought my child to the Lord?  What are the conditions that must be met to permit a high level of assurance that I really have brought my child to Jesus?

​Heart Conditions:  Every child needs to be brought to the Lord for salvation – the new birth.  Be reminded of the words of Jesus in Mark 10:14d, “…for of such is the kingdom of God.”  There is something inherent in the heart of a child enabling that child to exercise great faith and trust.  A child will gladly come if he/she is not hindered, generally by adults.  The new birth is an act of God, an act whereby a child is given a new nature as described in II Peter 1:4.  It is a quickening, an act of making one alive, as described in Ephesians 2:1.  Only God can do that.  But, parents must be faithful in preparing both the heart and mind of the child, equipping them with sufficient knowledge and understanding that will enable a child to exercise faith and great resolve to trust Christ for salvation.  But as important as the new birth is, there is more to bringing a child to Christ.  

​Mind Conditions:  Bringing a child to the Lord involves the preparation of the mind also.  Scripture is replete with passages that speak of the mind, of knowledge, of wisdom, of understanding.  Proverbs 1:2-6, the preamble to the entire book, outlines the path of one first described as being simple (v. 4) to becoming wise (v. 5).  One who is simple means one uninstructed, as every little child is.  One who is wise will hear, will increase in learning, thus becoming a man of understanding able to offer wise counsels.  It is only when parents have worked to create the right heart conditions and the right mind conditions that a child has been brought to the Lord.  The words of Solomon in the preamble to the book of Proverbs stress the importance of an education program for children that is based upon the truth of the Word of God.  

​What a parent knows about desirable conditions of the heart and conditions of the mind in children must then be applied to at least three age levels.  Consider these things:

​The Pre-school and Early Childhood Years:  Educational programs for this age level are receiving much attention as we enter this new century.  And there are a number of desirableand worthy objectives.  But, the most important objective of these years in the growth of a child is simple.  It involves teaching the meaning of a two-letter word.  That word is NO.  The next verse in Proverbs 1, following the preamble, is this: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  Children must be taught that there is authority beyond self.  Within the family, a social component created by God, God is the authority and that authority is extended to the parents.  Children must be taught this.  It is vital to bringing a child to the Lord.  It is vital as a child develops those educational tools needed to move further in an educational program.

​The Middle Years:  The middle years in the educational life of the child must be devoted to acquiring knowledge, both academic and spiritual; to acquiring wisdom, knowing justice, judgment and equity; and to becoming a young man or young woman of discernment.  That is the formula given by Solomon.  This newly acquired knowledge and wisdom must be based upon truth, the veritology of the Word of God and the person of Christ.  There is a truth of history which cannot be found in the public arena.  The same could be said for science, for language, and the other critical components of an educational program.  The point is this:  the middle years must be devoted to acquiring academic and spiritual knowledge that conforms to truth.  It, too, is vital to bringing a child to Jesus.  

​The High School Years:   The high school years of a child, while continuing the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom, must focus on the idea of service.   Service opportunities must be provided.  Service opportunities must be accepted by the child.  Service must be experienced by the child.  One can ask:  Whose servant are you?  Each of us serves someone.  Every parent must desire that their children become servants of the Lord.  Learning to serve is vital to bringing your children to the Lord.  The educational program chosen must include a strong service component.

​Conclusion:  Bringing your child to the Lord is much more than attending church and leading your child down an isle to receive Christ.  That occurs in the lives of many children and they are not ready to follow Jesus.  It also involves the mind and the preparation of the mind.  It involves a mind that knows truth and a heart that is willing to submit to Jesus Christ   It involves a life-view that accounts for God and His place in creation, but also His design of the social structure.  It involves a willingness to live in accord with revealed truth.  In involves a child who will hear, who will continue learning, and who is able to offer wise counsel to others.  Only then have we brought our children to the Lord.