a child's life!

​Title: A Child’s Life
by Linda Hokit
      “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven
belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14 NIV
      VBS and other child outreach programs, such as the sports camp our church does each year, have always
been important to me, since I accepted the Lord at a VBS. I have seen children share the Gospel with
each other with the greatest of ease. Others gave up gifts they had earned so someone else could have a gift as well. To be sure, there are always kiddos that just have to wiggle at inopportune times.
      
​      However, When I was an appointed a missionary at a conference, a presenter had the missionaries present raise
our hands when she hit on the age, we made our commitment to serve in missions. I was in my late
twenties. Others where in their 50’s and still others were as young as elementary school! Her point was,
that God was using the work done by missionaries, children’s leaders and parents helped to raise up
children who could also be used of God. She was demonstrating that we were not just raising up fine
adults but also children and servants of God!
      A number of verses in the Bible reference children. Some focus on children directly and others ask adults
to take on such things as the qualities, attitudes and assumptions of children. In doing so, we shred
away the ought's and expectations of adulthood for the simplicity of an unincumbered life in God’s
Hands. In Matthew 18:3 Christ says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In Mark 37, Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes one of these
little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one
who sent me.”
      A modern example of God calling someone in their young years is Jim Elliot. Jim’s parents served the
Lord in a bi-vocational way. He accepted the Lord at six years old and grew in his faith until he met and
married Elisabeth. He was insightful and often recorded his thoughts in a journal. One of the things he
was known for saying was, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Jim and Elisabeth served in Ecuador where they were among those seeking to share the love of God with
an indigenous tribe who eventually killed Jim and four other men who were seeking to make a
connection with them. One thing led to another and the person who killed him eventually accepted the
Lord and became a leader in the work to reach the others tribe members in ways they could understand.
Elisabeth remarried and became an inspired author and teacher. Countless young adults were also
inspired to serve because of their sacrifice.
       As a result, the mission they supported grew. If you would like the whole story, check out
the movies called, Through Gates of Splendor, Beyond Gates of Splendor
and End of the Spear. Elisabeth also wrote Through Gates of Splendor and Shadow of the Almighty.
After seeing our children at Sports Camp react in truly compassionate ways, listen to presentations
about prayer and participate in Bible Study, I began to ponder the ways God’s has used children in the
past. It didn’t take long to come up with a short list. Samuel was called at a young age while serving in
the temple after his mother dedicated him to God. David fell Goliath while still a boy.
      Moses’ sister Miriam watched over him while he was in a basket in the bullrushes. Christ was
doing His Father’s work at 12 years old. A young boy gave up his lunch, which Christ multiplied for
the multitudes to eat. In like manner, God has a call and a cause for each of us regardless of how
old we are when he calls us!
      In closing, I would like to share a story about my father that helped me understand at a young age about
serving others. I guess every parent has a story that starts out with how they walked miles to school, in
the snow, uphill, both ways! Well, my dad did not walk in the snow because he lived in Oklahoma, but
he did walk a mile or so to school. His school was one room and it was his job to come early and set a
fire so the room would be warm when everyone arrived. We were all about serving, helping other and
showing respect in our family, but what I got out of the story was how rewarding it is to serve. How
important it is to be a team member whether or not anyone knows or notices.
      Just one story, helped me find my place in the world! Because we moved so much in my young years,
my brother and I were always the new kids. Even though we both did well in sports we did not always
have a chance to play on the first string. So, I became the person on the track team that always came in
second, or third place. However, that was fine with me, because if I ran or jumped in multiple events, I
could earn us a number of “Team Points” and made me a valuable member of the team. As an adult I
was always in a “middle management” role and loved it, because it gave me face-to-face-time with
those I was serving and helping. If I had “moved up the ladder”, I would have lost my opportunity to
meet needs! I would have lost my opportunity to just sit, chat and sometimes share God’s love.
      So, in summary, children, who some might consider the least of these can actually serve as examples of
a successful servant in Christ!

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