-July 23, 2020-
Good morning, happy Thursday,
-Bring The Little Children To Jesus And Emulate Their Faith-
“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.”
(Matthew 19:13-15).
Little children are such a blessing. They have such a childlike faith and trust. They are not worried, anxious, or concerned about the troubles, trials, and tribulations of this world. This is why Jesus said of them, “of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
When people started bringing their children to Jesus to lay His hands on them and bless them, the disciples rebuked them; but Jesus, in effect Jesus rebuked His disciples. He told not to forbid them from bringing their children to Him.
On numerous occasions Jesus had to rebuke His disciples for their wrong thinking and attitudes. He rebuked their lack of faith in the incident of the storm at sea. He rebuked them for condemning those who cast out demons in His name, though they did not follow them. He rebuked them for condemning Mary for wasting her expensive perfume by anointing Him. These are just a few examples.
Jesus showed how much He loves little children and wants them to be brought to Him. We often teach our kids to love the Lord and read the Word and pray. We often feel they are too young to understand the gospel, which is true in one sense that they do not understand what it means to be a sinner and how Christ died on the cross for their sins. But we should not hinder them from coming to Jesus and being blessed by Him.
It is much easier to win a child to Christ than an adult. Little ones are not jaded by the things of this world. Their hearts are simple, sincere, soft, and supple. They do not often reject, refuse, or resist the gospel as many adults do.
The hymn writer said, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.” Believers in the NT are called children, little children, and babes in Christ. We can learn so much from them in simply trusting and obeying the Lord.
On one occasion the disciples were debating which one of them was the greatest, Jesus brought a little child in their midst and said, “Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-5).
May the Lord help us to bring our children to Him, and for us to emulate their simple, childlike faith as children of God. Let our our faith be uncomplicated, unpretentious, and undefiled by the things of this world. Jesus loved the little children; and He loves each of us as His children.
Have a blessed day as a children of God trusting Him and teaching our children to love Him and follow Him. Stay safe and healthy.
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 