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“Bring Redeemer's Involvement Now Greatly! (B.R.I.N.G)”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

 SCRIPTURE:
 "People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  (Mark 10:13, NIV)

APPROACH QUESTION:
Why would you bring little children to Jesus?

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what the people were doing.
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them!

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself what the significance is of people bringing children to Jesus to touch them?

The people knew that the children needed the touch of the Master’s Hand.

The act of bringing children to Jesus holds a profound symbolism, reflecting trust in His ability to transform and bless lives, both spiritually and physically. It highlights the faith of those who believed His touch carried divine power.

This act of faith carries profound meaning even today. The willingness to bring children to Jesus reveals a belief in His power to transform lives and impart blessings that surpass human understanding. It serves as a reminder of the importance of nurturing faith in the younger generation, recognizing that their spiritual growth can have a ripple effect on the world around them. When we guide our children toward the teachings and presence of Jesus, we not only sow seeds of hope and redemption but also cultivate a legacy of faith that endures through trials and triumphs alike.

How impressive is that! The people brought the children to Jesus because they knew that only He could impact their lives, touching them spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, and mentally. They understood that their children would never be the same after encountering Jesus. This was what the people desired for their children. It's quite possible that "the people" refers to parents, guardians, grandparents, and others who wanted to see their children’s lives transformed by Jesus. You don't take people to Jesus unless you want them changed. This is the power of the Lord.

IMPLICATIONS:

I saw important implications for my own life here. I need to bring my children to Jesus so that Jesus alone can change and transform them. The touch of Jesus in their lives will not leave them the same; they will be forever changed, and it starts with me. I cannot physically take my children to see Jesus in person, but Jesus has given me His Word, where I can take my children daily so that Jesus can touch them. Jesus can also reach them while they pray, so I need to teach my children how to pray the Scriptures.

I ask you now, dear friend, why bring your children to Jesus?
Dear friend, Jesus alone can touch and bless your children’s lives in His Way. When they are blessed in His Way, they will experience His Truth and live life experiencing Eternal Life. Jesus alone can deliver lives that are in bondage to sin and death. Victory and Salvation come only through Jesus!

 But it starts with you and me, friend. Just as the people brought children to Jesus so they could be touched, we are charged with bringing our children to Jesus for the touch of the Master’s Hand. What an awesome and unforgettable experience that would be! I want to share my own experience in hopes of encouraging you.

When I was a child, my mom read Bible stories to me almost every night, even though she was the only born-again Christian in her family line that I know of. The rest of our family members were all Hindus. She also prayed with me about every situation. When we came to the United States, she watched biblical cartoons called "Flying House" and "Superbook" with me. She did all this to bring me to Jesus.

One day, I heard the late Pat Robertson of 700 Club discussing accepting Jesus into my heart. I did not know what that meant, so I asked my mommy. I had severe asthma at the time. I told myself that if Jesus were the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, like the Bible says, then what Jesus did in those days, Jesus could even do now. So, I knew Jesus could heal me of my severe asthma.

My mommy wrote a sinner's prayer on the back of a rectangular cardboard and asked me to pray it with her to bring me to Jesus. The prayer stated, “Jesus, I am a sinner, Lord. I am so sorry for all my sins. Please forgive me of all my sins. Cleanse me with your precious blood, and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. I accept you Jesus into my heart. Please make my heart your home. Live in me, Jesus, and I will from now on live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be my Lord and Personal Savior. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!”

My mommy then gave me the Gospel of John to read daily. I was healed of my asthma and could do things I could never do before. I also became the first male Christian in my Hindu family generation line. Because my mommy brought me to Jesus, I was passionate about sharing Jesus’ love with the masses. I had given my life to Christ on Valentine’s Day in 7^th grade. After that, I wrote in the Valentine’s Day edition that said, “Jesus loves you, Jesus loves me”, “If you want to know more about Jesus, watch WPCB 40”. I finished middle school and high school. During all that time my mommy made sure I was reading my Bible for spiritual growth, praying, and listening to ministry programs on WPIT-FM, WORD-FM, Cornerstone, and so on. My mom also watched a lot of Christian movies with me.

When I came to college, I wanted to reach souls for Christ during my junior year of college. I went on to staff InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I wrote for the Pitt News and am now publishing the Pittsburgh Standard.  It all started with my mommy bringing me to Jesus from an early age. For years, I took hundreds of students through the Gospel of Mark devotionals and other devotionals. I counseled lives through problem-solution poems with prayer. Those contemplating suicide came to Jesus, those addicted to cocaine came to Jesus, those whose lives were transformed by the biblical devotionals came to Jesus. It was all because of sharing Jesus with others. Jesus had touched my heart to follow Him but it was because my mommy was faithful to bring me as a child to Jesus.

What about you my friend?

What do you focus on when it comes to your children?

Is it academia more than Jesus?

Is it making money more than Jesus?

What do you model to your children?

There is nothing wrong with academia when Christ is in the picture. He needs to be first place in our lives and our children’s lives.  That is what I learned.

As a child of Indian immigrant parents, education was very important to me even as a Christian. An ‘A’ grade was awesome, ‘B’ grade was a ‘Bee’ sting, ‘C’ grade was ‘Careless’, ‘D’ grade was ‘Dumb’ and ‘F’ grade was a failure. The Lord revealed to me that I was making grades my idols over him.

With the Lord’s help I graduated with a B.S in Psychology 3.12, with a B.A in Administration of Justice with a 3.85, a major in Legal Studies with a 4.0, minors in Math and Computer Science with a 3.0, and minors in Business 3.85, and Nutrition & Dietetics with a 3.85. I am currently taking seminary courses with a 4.0.

I share this because as Christians, we need to try to excel in everything we do for the Lord. If the Lord calls us away from academia, we need to be ready, even though it could be challenging. We may have to depend on ministry partners to raise support for ministry or tent-making, but the Lord will provide.

Friend, prioritize bringing your children to Jesus. Starting at an early age, immerse them in God’s Word, prayer, local church, ministry sermons, and ministry books so they can come to the Lord and grow in their faith.

At that point, we can tell the Lord that we did everything we could for our children, yet the final outcome remains in the Lord’s hands. How sad it would be if we do not guide our children to the Lord and they choose to follow their own worldly paths. Loving our children means making Jesus a priority in their lives.

May you bring your children to the Lord both at home and beyond. May the Lord Jesus take them and bless them in Jesus' name! Amen!

“Why B.R.I.N.G your children to Jesus?”/” Bring Redeemer’s Involvement Now Greatly! (B.R.I.N.G)”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for helping me learn from your Word about the importance of parents and guardians bringing their children to you. Oh Lord, you desire to touch and bless our children, especially delivering them from the bondage of sin and death. So, we ask for your help in bringing our children to you daily. Grant us wisdom, Oh Lord. Forgive our sins. Help our children develop a passionate love for you and live their lives for you. Protect them and guard them against Satanic attacks of any kind. If they have sinned, forgive them and show them your grace. Help them to live for you. In Your Name, I pray, Jesus! AMEN!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I  struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me too. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help!