I am writing this blog a few days after finishing up Project Shine and right in the middle of Vacation Bible School. Spending so much time with children and students has been awesome but also tiring. It is in times like these that I need to remind myself of the value that Jesus placed on children. I love the example we see from Jesus in Mark 10:13-16. It says this:
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
When the children were brought to Jesus the disciples were not happy and they tried to stop them. I doubt the disciples hated children, but they reacted like many of us do by thinking the needs of adults were much more important than the needs of children. The disciples viewed children as an interruption of Jesus’ ministry, but Jesus viewed children as His ministry. From personal experience, I know how easy it is to make this same mistake in churches today. It is easy for us as adults to see what happens in the sanctuary as more important than what happens in the Sunday school or youth room. The adults tend to get the most money, the most effort, and the most attention. I think Jesus would have a problem with that.
When Jesus saw the disciples’ reaction to children, He was indignant which means He was violently irritated. He wasn’t simply annoyed, He was furious. Jesus then rebuked the disciples and let the children come to him. What a great example from our Savior! I want to love children and youth the way Jesus does.
Here are a few questions I have been asking myself:
- What do my actions prove about my view of children?
- Am I willing to get out of my comfort zone to love children the way Jesus does?
- How can we as a church continue to prioritize children’s and youth ministry?
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Psalm 127:3