Reading: Luke 18:15-17
And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” [NASB1995®]
The mothers of some young children wanted to bring them to Jesus so that he could pray for them, but the disciples did not want to let the Master be “upset.” Although this is strange to us today, it was understandable for the time. Children were often not considered as important to society outside the scope of their families.
Understanding this helps us to better interpret what Jesus tells us when He teaches that the children should be allowed to come to Him, and that His Kingdom is for those who are like children.
On the one hand, this speaks to us of humility. Those who want to be part of the Kingdom of God must remember that many times that means being considered as “less than”, despised and rejected. But the value of a child of God is not in what society thinks, but in the price that the Lord has paid for our redemption.
On the other hand, we learn the need to be like children in how we trust and let our hearts rest in the Lord. We need to be like children, marveling at the beauty of God’s grace in Christ.
Many times we let circumstances distract us and make us lose sight of the most important thing. We are loved by the Creator of the Universe. He humbled Himself and served us in love, and this is a truth that every day should fill our hearts with joy, trust and gratitude.
MEDITATE: In what sense do we need to remember to be like children?
Scripture quotation taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
