'And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better
for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea'.   (Mat 18:5-6 NIV)

Some of Jesus' harshest words were reserved for those who cause harm to children. If we lead a child into sin, we can expect the worst! But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea

We don't think of ourselves as doing such a thing, but think about it-parents, what television programs or movies do you allow your children to watch? What kind of ideas and temptations are being planted in their minds? Which magazines are left lying about, where young hands can get hold of them? What kinds of moral messages are being taught?

For those who don't have children, when children visit, what kind of language do they hear? What kind of television programme is on in the background?

There are other ways we fail our children. Do we encourage them to go to Sunday school? To have family devotions?  

Do we encourage to reach their full potential in life and in the Lord?

When your children say they don't want to go to the youth meeting, do you give in and let them miss opportunities for fellowship and to grow in the faith, or do you draw the line there and insist they go?

Recently I spoke on a Sunday morning at a church in Swansea called the West Cross Community Church. The meeting was led by the church's young people - they led worship, danced, prayed and shared of the incredible things that God has done in their lives.

One of the girls and 18 year old shared of how she was just about to go off to Manchester on a training programme for evangelism. The youth worker leading the
service if some of the congregation would come out to lay hands and pray with the young girl. Many came forward - most of them young people. Praise God for these
teens!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the reasons that the youth is doing so well and coming on in God is because the church leadership is giving them plenty of encouragement.

That's' ENCOURAGEMENT. The youth hear responses such as 'ok', 'yes - we'll give it a try' and 'well, why don't you do it', instead of  'when you're older' or 'we didn't do
that when we were you're age',

One other way we may not even realise we are hurting youngsters, but that can leave lifetime damage, is in our words. You know that you are angry and don't mean it when you call them 'stupid,' 'good-for-nothing'; , etc. but they can take this image with them for a long time.

We need to be careful how we talk to such young impressionable children. When we correct them, we need to do it in a way that they have NO doubts that they are
loved - sometimes they are left doubting this. Children need to feel loved and cherished. This is crucial for their spiritual and emotional well-being.

Even if we don't spend a lot of time with children, we can pray for them-and we should.

Children and young people are precious gifts from God, and we need to treat them that way.

Dear Father, forgive us when we fail the children in our lives. Guide us as we guide them. In Jesus' name amen.