THE CHILDREN'S GUIDANCE

One of the many little instances of safety depending on light was when some Christians, crossing a lonely moor, were overtaken by darkness and rain. There would be danger in remaining exposed to the wild night and peril in leaving the track on which they were. A glimmering light however guided them to much-needed shelter in a keeper's cottage. The household had all gone to bed but by a mere mistake had left the oil-lamp burning in the window. This was surely God's providence for the safety of the travellers.

Older children will have heard of the so-called Dark Ages during which the light of Christianity seemed to be but flickering. Who knows, however, what believers there were during those centuries whose light gave guidance to the pathways of others and whose shining attracted the attention of heaven itself? The present days are, in their way, quite as dark as those ancient times; therefore believers should appear, just like the heavenly bodies in the sky, "as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life". Paul wrote these words to the Christians in Philippi. How the children there would remember hearing of the way in which Paul and Silas had been heavenly lights in the darkness of the prison in their city and had held forth the word of life to one ready to die of despair!

One of the verses in the very long Psalm reads, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path". Thus the Scriptures are a guide to us in every step of our pathway, and will help us to discern the ways of God in our pathway. God is able to use a child to give guidance. Of Josiah, who was crowned king when only eight years old, it is recorded that "while he was yet young" he set an example to his people by seeking after God and the things pleasing to Him. The young king's guiding light became brighter and brighter. He was able to have God's house, the Temple, restored. Then by the finding of the book of the law a greater light was shed around and everyone had to be guided by God's word. Finally the king encouraged his people to serve God with the greatest assembly for many centuries. Do you seek Him in prayer?

J.C.Evershed