A PARABLE - BEHOLD THE CHILDREN PLAYING SOCCER

​It was about 8:30 a.m. on a Sunday as my wife and I traveled to Bible class. I told her to look at all the kids playing soccer. A big rain had come through earlier. It was cold and damp. I was amazed to see the parking lot full of cars and so many parents in the stands and on the sidelines cheering their children on. I remarked to my wife how the parents could get their children fed, dressed and to the ballpark so early on such a dreary Sunday morning.

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I was also grieved as I began to think of all the excuses parents make for not having their families in Bible class and worship. It is so sad that so many will fail to put forth the effort to see that they are there for the services of the church. I wished that our parking lot, Bible classes and church pews were always full.
 
Arriving at services, it was good to see those faithful few who decided it is worth all the effort. The cars began to fill the church parking lot. Children began to walk the halls of the church building and take their seats in Bible class. Parents were there with their Bibles in hand ready to study the word of God and worship Him. Each one was an encouragement to my wife and me.
 
I want to encourage every family and every member to make Bible classes and assemblies of worship a priority in your home. I want to commend those who are so faithful and exhort you to continue in your faithfulness. I pray that we will not let the world be more committed to the things of the world, than we are committed to the things of God.
 
If parents can bring their children to play a game of soccer which one day will not really make a whole lot of difference, how much more should Christians bring their children with them to study God’s word and to worship Him which one day will in part determine the eternal destiny of their souls?!
 
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
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Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.