THE CHILDREN'S GOD

Read - "But now thus saith Jehovah, that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine''; Isa 43: 1. Now read it again with your own name in place of Jacob and Israel! You will thus learn the value that God places on you.

First He speaks as Creator. You must respect those who teach you at school even if they do not believe in creation, but always keep your simple faith that in the beginning God created all things. He has given you spirit, soul and body for His own glory.

Every believer has been born anew and God is the great Former of this work of new creation. It is this change that first makes us feel the need of a Saviour. In Jesus we find an object for the heart and a pattern for the renewed mind. It used to be said that God works with poor material in mankind because I suppose, man is a fallen creature. But the truth is that He works with the best of materials in the believer - the divine nature. It is a very wonderful thing that the Christian can be a partaker of this.

Then God is also a Redeemer. Can you say that He is yours? The Lord Jesus sacrificed "all whatever he had" to secure for Himself what is so precious to Him. Sins and the result in us of Adam's sin was a heavy burden which only the redeeming blood of Jesus could bear away from us.

Many a child may call upon God without realising that God had first called him or her. He is a Caller. For blessing He commands all mankind in every nation to "repent and turn to God". This is a broadcast call. There is also a personal call in the gospel. The child Samuel heard his own name called several times before he answered to the Caller. Are you like him? When he did respond God told him about judgment: He will be happy to confide to you His delight in Jesus.

"Thou are mine" is the cry of a triumphant Possessor. Later in our chapter He says "and I have loved thee". This is the gospel of God. He rejoices in what He has won for Himself through the gift of His Son and the atoning work at the place of a skull. Do you rejoice with Him?

J.C.Evershed