The Children for Christ by Andrew Murray

quickening power, that works in us the very thought and sentiment that
was in His heart when He spake it. By faith our heart; our nature, our
life is opened up to give place to God, so as to let Him be and do in us
what He pleases. By faith we become fully conscious of what the
purpose of His will is, and of Himself as waiting to work it in us. By
faith we forsake the visible, ourselves, with our own thoughts and
strength; we look to God to do what He has promised, and so give Him
the glory. Faith is the exercise of a will that yields itself for God’s holy
will to take possession of it and work out its pleasure. `All things are
possible to him that believes,’ because `with God nothing shall be
impossible,’ and faith is union with God.
In speaking these words to the father of the lunatic, Jesus gave to us for
all time the secret of successful parental training and prayer. He tells us
that it is not only the ministers of His gospel, the watchmen, and the
workers in fields of special danger or difficulty, but every Christian
parent, that needs to exercise strong faith, and in strong faith may most
assuredly secure the salvation of his child. It teaches us that His
compassion and power are longing to help us, if we can believe. If not,
it is our blame if our children perish.
There are parents who think this is a hard saying. They seek the cause
of unconverted and unsaved children in God and not in themselves.
Has God’s sovereignty nothing to do with the salvation of our children?
Is there not such a thing as election? And if so, how can all the
responsibility be thrown on our unbelief? Scripture reveals to us most
clearly God’s sovereignty; His grace is electing grace; the final decision
of the destiny of each man is in His hands. Scripture reveals as clearly
man’s responsibility, and the all-prevailing power of faith. True
humility accepts both statements without reconciling them; it bows
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