This morning, it seems that man puts his priorities in the wrong place.  People in the world have the goal and aim to make gain and win influence and power in their social standing. Some of God's people try to be seen for the things that they do, and to put notches in their belt for the souls that they have saved or people that they have gotten to attend their local assembly. Such goals are ridiculous at their core, for they center their effort on man and not God. If God is not the center, then it will come to nought. Indeed, if God is not the all-in-all, then it will most certainly be a great fall like a house founded upon the shifting sands of this sin-cursed earth. 

When someone asks me how many members the church that I pastor has, invariably, they are unimpressed when I tell them the number (16). When they ask how many young people we have, they are disappointed when they find it to be few (3). It seems like the goal is in the wrong place. Even among some of our folks, the children garner everyone’s attention, and people place the hope for the future of the church upon them. The future of the church has always been and always will be the Lord Himself. Since He is the Rock of her foundation, she will never crumble or come to ruin. Since He holds her future in His hand, she will never be vanished from the earth.   

Indeed, children are important to the church of the living God, but their importance is no more or less than any other age group. Some even believe that the "health" of a church is measured by the young people that attend. Again, the focus is incorrect. The future of a local assembly and relative "health" of her members is found in our verse under consideration. Ask not, "How many young people or members do you have?" Ask rather, "Are they growing in grace and knowledge of their Lord and Saviour?" The church’s health should be measured by their reading and studying the Scriptures, the frequency of their attendance to the Lord's house, and their spiritual well-being.   

The Lord is able to raise up stones to the children of Abraham, and He is just as able to bless folks to "come and see" today. So, as thankful as I am that folks ask about the well-being of our little flock, I am more thankful when they ask the right questions about her state. While few in number by the world's standards, they seem to be growing in grace and knowledge (in spite of their pastor), and for this we are supremely thankful to our Head and Lawgiver Jesus Christ. After all, He deserves all glory, honour, and adulation, both now and forever.

In Hope,

Bro Philip