Chapter 22

Pastor then stood before us with his Bible in hand and opened it to share comfort from God’s Word. Here is the outline of what he said:

Mark 10: 13-16 “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

Jesus loves the little children all the children of the world. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Today you identify with our Heavenly Father who understands what it is to see His Son die.

David understood your sorrow and now you understand his. II Samuel 12:15-23 “And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

God has shown His mercy and protection over those innocent of sins of adult generations. Jonah 4:10-11, “Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?”
Israel sinned in unbelief at entering Canaan. God spared all those under 20 years of age and did not hold their generation accountable for the sins of their fathers.

Hebrews 4 tells us Christ was touched by the feelings of our infirmities in verses 14 through 16, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

In I Corinthians 15 God pictures the death of believers as planting seeds. As the life of a plant comes forth, so is the resurrection also. The world is pictured as fields ripe unto harvest, and in I Corinthians believers are called God’s husbandry. God is the creator and we are like His garden. The master can come any day to pluck from His garden a rose in full bloom, or He may choose to pluck a beautiful little rose bud (our baby Curtis). The garden is His and the choice is the Lord’s. We like David must worship, be comforted and go on in faith with our lives. Isaiah 40:10-11, “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” You can trust Curtis Smith Mast to the Lord now.