THE CHILDREN'S CONFIDENCE

As the verses have been numbered, the middle of the whole Bible is Psalm 118 verse 8, and of this the middle word is the name by which God was known to His people Israel. The psalmist, unnamed, had learned the necessity of trusting in Him rather than in man.

Now that God has been made known as Father by, and in, the Lord Jesus we have even more reason for trusting Him. For one thing, Jesus said that our Father in the heavens will give good gifts to those who ask of Him. These are gifts that He sees are good for us and the greatest is doubtless the Holy Spirit which God gives to those who obey Him. The apostle John writes especially to the little children because they know the Father, so we do not have to wait for this until we are grown-up. Although we cannot entrust the salvation of our souls to any but God Himself, we can put confidence in those, like John, to whom He entrusts His word. The following may help you to remember his first epistle.

In the first chapter he guides us to walk in the light, which means being honest in everything. In the second he grades us into old and young persons and little children so that we may each know God in a suitable way. In chapter three he girds us up to practice always what is right even as God is righteous. Next he goads us on to show love to one another because love is of God our Father. The last chapter guards us, being God's children, from the wicked one.

Do you keep yourself in the love of God, looking for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?

J.C.Evershed