Do you remember what it was like to be a kid?
Last night we had the opportunity to be at the dedication service of our two youngest grandchildren, Sam and Kristine.
There were a number of families there with little ones. The pastor asked that we family members keep these children and their parents in our prayers as they grow.
The parents were making public their desire to raise their children to love the Lord and to have them learn to live their lives based on God’s word.
“People brought their small children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them. But the followers told the people to stop bringing their children to him. 14 Jesus saw what happened. He did not like his followers telling the children not to come. So he said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these little children. 15 The truth is, you must accept God’s kingdom like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it.” 16 Then Jesus held the children in his arms. He laid his hands on them and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16 ERV
I love thinking about these verses. I can just see Jesus playing with the children; peek-a-boo, tag, hide n seek. He wasn’t too big or too important to be bothered. No, He made time to impact their lives.
He also took time to teach the adults about their relationship with His Father. “You must accept God’s kingdom like a little child accepts things”.
A small child knows nothing of how electricity is conducted but they accept that if you touch the switch the lights come on. They accept that the remote will make pictures appear on the tv. They accept if you open the refrigerator there will be something good to eat. They accept many things they don’t completely understand.
So with the same child like faith I accept that God loves me. I accept that Jesus died so my sins are forgiven. I accept that the Holy Spirit is with me each day to guide my thoughts and actions and to give me strength and wisdom. I accept that God the Father wants me to be with Him in heaven someday.
Do I completely understand all the ways of God? No! But what I do accept is that He loves me unconditionally and that will never change.
We have the opportunity to be examples of God’s love and forgiveness each day to the littles in our lives. Do we really think that God’s love for us is any less than the love we have for them?
“Do any of you have a son? If he asked for bread, would you give him a rock? 10 Or if he asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? Of course not! 11 You people are so bad, but you still know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:9-11 ERV
Father, my desire is to relate to you as my loving, gracious, kind and benevolent Father. Thank you for loving me. I want my life to be a reflection of your love. I want to bring honor to you.
I will close with this little incident from last evening. After the dedication, most of the parents took their children to the nursery area. I noticed one little with their parents who stayed in for the pastor’s teaching. At one point the parent got up, holding their child’s hand, they walked down the aisle to the exit. Then I heard the child proudly proclaim, “I go potty”. Some of us who heard it smiled and chuckled. I’m sure the parent was embarrassed but not the child.
We will often say and do things that could be embarrassing to our Father but they will never stop His love for us!