“Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:13-16)
Last Sunday I saw them. They couldn’t seem to make it down to the front of the auditorium fast enough. Each of them carried their own Bible, writing pen or pencil and a journal. Following the last verse of the song before the preacher started, each of them proceeded to get everything in place to take notes on the lesson. Bible … check! Pen … check! Journal open to the next blank page … check! Heart opened … check!
As Jesus and His disciples would make their way from one village or city to another, we read of the little children coming to Him, being brought to Him by family members. It would have been quite a sight to behold. The people, the children could see in the life of Jesus, hear it in His words … He was someone special! His powerful, refreshing and sometimes frank words along with His amazing miracles compelled them to come closer. His kindness, gentleness helped them to feel important. The Scriptures explain to us that He cared for them so much that He would pick them up, wrap them in His arms and if they were a little older simply place His loving hands on their head or shoulders and bless each one.
Yes, as the old familiar song teaches, Jesus Loves The Little Children! The disciples seem to have missed the import of these reoccurring scenarios taking place wherever Jesus was. They were discouraging them from coming near, as if He had more important things to do. When Jesus saw what was going on, He admonished them not to chase the children away, “… for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Hopefully, as parents, grandparents and even the unrelated adults, we realize how much emphasis is placed in God’s Word on influencing, teaching and encouraging our young ones in the ways of the Lord and the purity of His Word.
Ironically, the Bible also teaches us how these little ones can be models for adults as well! With emphasis and clarity we read throughout the Bible of the actions and words of children and of how they are directly related to family, tribe and nation.
You see, the future of the Lord’s church is deeply connected to our young and how we teach them, love them, and yes, discipline them! The future of the Lord’s church will to a great measure be determined by the ability of our young to learn the valuable, relative, requirement that the superiority of spiritual success lies in discernment. They must learn there actually is right and wrong, truth and error, selflessness and selfishness and the difference between authority and opinion! They must learn from us.
We must learn from them. May the Lord help each of us to be like those little girls I saw on Sunday … coming before Him and the hearing of His Word with humble, happy, teachable and receptive hearts; hearts free of ambition, pride and even haughtiness. Remember these words of Jesus every day, “…for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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