The Conversion of Children

No revival is what it ought to be if a good deal of attention is not given to the children, and much prayerful effort put forth for their conversion. If Christian people use the divinely appointed means to lead souls, young or old, to Christ, they may confidently expect God’s blessing, but this is pre-eminently true in dealing with children. Dr. Duff, of Scotland, went to India and labored for the conversion of the heathen, yet with all his eloquence I heard him say in the Free Church Assembly Hall of Edinburgh, that his labors were a comparative failure until he turned his attention to the children, and held up Christ as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, then their hearts were touched, and many repented and believed in the Lord Jesus. From that time on he began to speak of certainties instead of continuing to speak of possibilities. “Take heed,” said Jesus, “that ye despise not one of these little ones.” The word translated “despise” is a very suggestive word. It means literally to think down, to think little or nothing of. Take heed that ye think not down one of these little ones. The conversion of a child may be of very little importance in our sight, but it is of immense importance in Jesus’s sight.