From the files of my mentor, Dr. Jo Bevington:
Mark 10:13-16 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Bring children to Jesus:
- In prayer on their level
- in fellowship on their level
- in worship on their level
- in instruction on their level
- Listen to a child
- Respond to the reaching of a child
- Love a child just like he is, without a motive to change or instruct; just love like God loves
- Enter a child’s world and guide the child with Biblical thoughts at teachable moments
- Observe how a child learns other things naturally; guide him to True Reality naturally
Children have the receptivity to know God. Mark 10:15 says anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. What about a little child caused Jesus to use this analogy?
Is it a child’s
- dependence?
- sensitivity?
- uncluttered experience?
- unbetrayed love?
- sense of wonder?
- their attitude that everything is new and beyond understanding so they accept what is just because it’s so?
All of these characteristics of children make it the right time to bring them to Jesus!
