THE CHILDREN'S PATHWAYS

Scripture speaks of "the right paths of the Lord"; therefore it is for us to search them out, follow them and stay in them. However much these paths may have been trodden, there are always fresh sights and experiences to be enjoyed in the company of others who, by God's grace, are also in "the way". For instance, as in the turbulent time of Jeremiah, there are still "the ancient paths" and "the good way". No doubt it is the fear of God that is referred to, not a dread of Him but just owning the claims of His love upon us. It is a narrow way in the sense that there is less to distract us, and also the eye of a Holy Father is continually upon the pilgrim travelling along it. It is the path that leads into life.

We often speak too of the path of faith. In some respects this is like the woodland and moorland trails where further directions are given on reaching a certain point. We never know what is before us but the traveller on the path of faith has always one object in view. He looks off from the difficulties and circumstances to Jesus who has trodden the whole of this way and whose coming again is his constant expectation. In connection with the great Christian privilege of knowing the Father, the Lord is Himself "the way, and the truth, and the life". I have heard of a roadside sign with these words upon it:-

Without the WAY there is no going

Without the TRUTH there is no knowing

Without the LIFE there is no living

Then there is the path of the truth. The shortest book of the Bible was written to a mother with her children and brought greetings from their cousins. However young or old these children were, the apostle John wrote that they were "walking in truth", that is living as true believers. They were loved by many for the eternal truth's sake and they could always rely on the grace of God the Father. It is by being first loved that we learn to love as a response so that doing the will of God becomes a ready thing. As with older believers, a believing child should soon urgently desire to remember the Lord in the breaking of bread. This is called the Lord's supper. Have you thought and spoken about it yet?

J.C.Evershed