“Then children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and went away.” Matthew 19:13-15
Devotional Thought For The Day
We will host our final day of Vacation Bible School this morning. Its’ been a good week – but little children present unique challenges. They have fears, and confusion, and uncertainty about how to get along with others – much like many adults. I’m sure that many people don’t care much for the challenges of working with little children – let them learn about Jesus later, when they can make up their own mind about Him. Sadly, these same thoughts can infect and determine decisions that young parents make about bringing their children to church and Sunday School. It is a challenge, and children have a short attention span, and don’t always know how to behave. It is not an unreasonable fear that other people will give scowls toward unruly children in church, and perhaps even rudely admonish young parents when they are working with keeping young children in church. Young parents may conclude that it is too much for them, and that they don’t need the added hassle that others press upon them.
It is a very sad thing that to this day, in spite of what our dear Savior and Lord taught about little children and did for them, that any Christian would provide discouragement to young parents or little children. Yes, Jesus’ disciples did the same thing – but they were rebutted and instructed about the value and importance of little children, that the kingdom of heaven also belongs to these littlest of believers. Jesus took time for them, and touched them with His hands, and blessed them with His love. He would also die for them, for their sin and guilt, and provide them with forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. Through faith they were His children, His disciples, and they would serve His kingdom for the rest of their lives. It is no different today, with the little children who have come to faith in Jesus through Holy Baptism, and who are growing in their faith in Jesus through worship, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and other churchly activities. It is an astonishing lack of love, understanding, and wisdom that anyone would complain that these little Christians, these little disciples of Jesus, make too much noise, or too much mess, or require too much energy for us to work with them, play with them, bless them, provide for their needs, and allow them to impinge upon our “happiness.” Lord, have mercy!
At least the parents of these children were eager and bold to bring them to Jesus for His blessing. May God grant such boldness, eagerness, zeal and love to fill the hearts of all young Christian parents today – so much so, that even if they have to hear the rebuke of other “disciples” they continue to bring their children to the center of the church’s life, to Jesus. After all, forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation are found only in Jesus, through faith in Jesus, and “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” [Rom. 10:17] What decent parent would not want these blessings for their children? May God also grant courage, determination, and insistence that we do all that we can for the nurturing of children in the faith, to all of His disciples today. This is one thing that is worth a fight in the church – if there are such curmudgeonly people in the congregation who don’t want any children around, or to do anything for them. And let us pray that God would grant such people a change of heart, repentance for their cold callousness toward these little children whom Jesus loves dearly, that they too might once again receive His forgiveness and His kingdom as little children. We know the children belong – Jesus said so. If we separate from them, where does that put us? Lord, have mercy!
The little ones may provide us with great challenges at times, but there are also great joys in working with them. Love, the love of Christ, often pours out of them unexpectedly with great simplicity and clarity – and there is little that is more precious than this. So let us be disciples of Jesus, and follow His instruction and example, and also embrace the little children and bless them!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us with great authority and clarity the value You place upon little children, Your little believers. Forbid that any should offend them or inhibit their growth in faith and love. Grant that they may richly experience Your love for them through the adults of Your congregation. Where we fail in this grant us repentance and forgiveness, and growth in real and genuine love. Amen.