Something that Jesus certainly did was to reach out and show love to children. He didn't turn them away or think of them as less important. He had some pretty strong messages concerning children. Let's look at some verses on this subject....
"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And He called a child to himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
"Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. If you eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.
See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 18:1-10
Jesus saw the beauty in the innocence of children and how we need to see things from a childlike perspective.
He sure makes you stop and think about how careful we need to be with children so that we don't cause them to stumble. There is some pressure in His words but I think that is a good thing. I think to often we have become comfortable with letting children see or hear evil things through television, movies and even books. Is what you are allowing your children to watch going to cause them to stumble? How about my bad attitudes and poor example some of the time- Is that going to cause a child to stumble? Am I being careful that everything that I teach is perfectly in line with the truth of God's word?
I know that we have a God that is full of grace and mercy which is a very good thing because I know I certainly make mistakes from time to time. That grace however is not a license to not be careful - to not try to the very best of our ability.
Jesus tells us not to cause a child to stumble - we need to listen to what He said and observe what He did!
I want to walk in His steps.... I hope you do too!
 |
| Beautiful Children from Sudan - Help them by helping Sudan African Mission |
"Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After laying His hands on them, He departed from there." Matthew 19:13-15
He sure makes you stop and think about how careful we need to be with children so that we don't cause them to stumble. There is some pressure in His words but I think that is a good thing. I think to often we have become comfortable with letting children see or hear evil things through television, movies and even books. Is what you are allowing your children to watch going to cause them to stumble? How about my bad attitudes and poor example some of the time- Is that going to cause a child to stumble? Am I being careful that everything that I teach is perfectly in line with the truth of God's word?
I know that we have a God that is full of grace and mercy which is a very good thing because I know I certainly make mistakes from time to time. That grace however is not a license to not be careful - to not try to the very best of our ability.Jesus tells us not to cause a child to stumble - we need to listen to what He said and observe what He did!
I want to walk in His steps.... I hope you do too!
No comments:
Post a Comment