Daily devotion – as little children…
(Matt. 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17 )
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
There is something that brings real joy to me each Sunday as I sit studying in my office before service, the sound of happy children in the house of the Lord. It’s a true blessing!
The Hebrew culture elevated the family and especially children!
Parents were bringing their children to Jesus in order for Him to touch them and the disciples were trying to halt this from happening. The parents were seeking a blessing for their children. What a great gift to desire for your child. I encourage parents here at CCSH to come forward at any time after the service to ask for prayer and a blessing from God to be upon their children.
The disciples thought they were protecting Jesus, besides in their thinking these were just children, and of ‘little importance’ in the greater scheme of God’s kingdom in their viewpoint.
But when Jesus saw what was happening, He got quite upset with the disciple’s actions and attitude. Instead Jesus commanded that the little children be free to come unto Him.
Why was Jesus so passionate about the children being free to come to Him?
Jesus loves children – Jesus had been a child in the literal sense even though He was the Creator of all. We see Christ’s love for children as He celebrates the delight of a mother on giving birth – Jhn 16:21 “A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
Many of Jesus miracles involved children – who could forget Jairus daughter being raised from the dead!
Charles Spurgeon, the prolific preacher of souls said, “ I will say broadly that I have more confidence in the spiritual life of the children that I have received into this Church than I have in the spiritual condition of the adults thus received…”
Jesus went on to say….15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Coming as a child does not infer here innocence nor receptivity or wonder as beautiful as these are.
What Jesus has in mind here is an objective state that every child who has ever lived, regardless of race, culture, or background, has experienced – helpless dependence!
Every single child in the world is absolutely, completely, totally, objectively, and subjectively helpless! And so it is with every child who is born into the kingdom of God.
Children of the kingdom enter it helpless, one’s for whom everything must be done.
For you today is this how you have come to Christ? Is it His grace plus your nothingness?
The proud of the world refuse to come to Christ because of its “self-respect” – which is actually a euphemism for pride and independence.
But to come as a helpless child would appear to such as humiliating.
But Jesus says that this is the way you must come – as a baby, in profound obedience.
…..16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Children were always comfortable with Jesus – they could tell He loved them!
They laid their heads upon His chest, and He blessed them.
The world blessed here means ‘fervently blessed”.
No one will receive the kingdom of God without this helpless, dependence and humility!