Psalm of the Day: Psalm 119:65-72
Wisdom of the Day: Job 37:1-24
Scripture Reading: Luke 9:37-45
We have an example of Christ's readiness to show mercy to young people. We are told in the case before us, that the prayer of the afflicted parent was graciously granted. He said to him, "Bring your son here." And then "He rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and gave him back to his father." We have many similar cases in the Gospels. The daughter of Jairus, the nobleman's son at Capernaum, the daughter of the Canaanite woman, the widow's son at Nain are all instances of our Lord's interest in those who are young.
The young are exactly those whom the devil labors to lead captive, and make His own. The young seem to have been exactly the people whom our Lord took a special delight in helping. He plucked three out of the very jaws of death. Two, as in the case before us, He rescued from the complete dominion of the devil.
There is a meaning in facts like these. They are not recorded without a special purpose. They are meant to encourage all who try to do good to the souls of the young. They are meant to remind us that young men and young women are special objects of interest to Christ. They supply us with an antidote to the common idea that it is useless to press religion on the attention of young people.
Such an idea comes from the devil, and not from Christ. He who cast out the evil spirit from the child before us still lives, and is still mighty to save. Let us then work on, and try to do good to the young.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, give me a passion for young people.
Action Plan: How actively involved am I in reaching young people for Christ? What can I do to show the same care that Jesus did?
This devotional was taken from The Gospel of Luke by J.C. Ryle published in 1858
and adapted by Pastor Tim Lewis of New England Shores Baptist Church.
