I’m returning to this simple word that means so much. I think that this word is one of God’s favourites as he wants everyone in the whole wide world to come to him so that he can love each of us. God’s love is so immense and yet so often overlooked as we focus on the negatives around and the things we can see, hear, smell, touch and taste.

God requires us to have a simple faith as we take God at his word. The words in Matthew 11 come to mind that are so incredibly comforting, helpful and sustaining.

In the Contemporary English Bible Matthew 11:28-30 reads (and this version is even better read aloud!) – Jesus Christ is speaking:-

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.”

Jesus encouraged little children to come to him and warned the disciples not to hinder them for theirs is the kingdom of God – possibly more easily  gained by them than us adults. Jesus actually warned us that if we put an obstacle in front of a child it would be better for us that a millstone crushed us as in God’s sight allowing a child easy access to him is priority in his eyes. We’re to be like children, too – not childish but childlke just simply believing what God says in his word, the Bible, and not questioning what he says.

So, be encouraged in your quest to develop your child’s potential, to come in as many ways as you can to Jesus, whether through reading the Bible or a book about him or watching a film to inspire your interest in him. Be sure to emphasise Jesus as being the one who we come to as he is “the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me,” said Jesus in John 14:6. One simple way is to give children books about God that will inspire them to learn more which is why we would recommend ‘The Creation Series’ written to be read to 3–4 year olds but enjoyed by older children too as they read it for themselves. There’s an Activity Book and a Creation Sounds CD and Songbook to go with it too – just order from our website.