Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Thought for Today
It was not unusual for mothers to bring their children to famous rabbis to have them blessed. With the stir that Jesus was creating I’m sure the ladies who traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover were hoping for a chance to meet Jesus and have Him bless their children. The disciples are understandably annoyed. There are very important people who want to meet Jesus, too. These important people should be the priority for Jesus. After all, little children will not increase their standing in Jerusalem. Jesus, on the other hand, takes this opportunity to drive home the point he had been trying to make about the Pharisee and the tax collector. He rebukes them for trying to send the mothers and children away. He points to the children and says it is exactly because they cannot do anything for themselves or anything to increase His standing that makes them so precious to Him. He is not looking for people who think they are important, He is looking for humble souls of simple faith. For by their simple faith in Him they are already a part of the Kingdom of God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Thank You for pointing to the children and reminding me that it is not what I can bring to You that You value, but that I simply trust. Amen.
Devotional Quote
The devil can quote Scripture for his purpose; and the text of Scripture which he now most commonly quotes is, “The Kingdom of heaven is within you.” That text has been the stay and support of more Pharisees and prigs and self-righteous spiritual bullies than all the dogmas in creation; it has served to identify self-satisfaction with the peace that passes all understanding. And the text to be quoted in answer to it is that which declares that no man can receive the kingdom except as a little child. What we are to have inside is a childlike spirit; but the childlike spirit is not entirely concerned about what is inside. It is the first mark of possessing it that one is interested in what is outside. The most childlike thing about a child is his curiosity and his appetite and his power of wonder at the world. We might almost say that the whole advantage of having the kingdom within is that we look for it somewhere else. ― G.K. Chesterton
Quote of the Day
It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion. — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Faith Like a Child
Luke 18: 15-16
Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Thought for Today
It was not unusual for mothers to bring their children to famous rabbis to have them blessed. With the stir that Jesus was creating I’m sure the ladies who traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover were hoping for a chance to meet Jesus and have Him bless their children. The disciples are understandably annoyed. There are very important people who want to meet Jesus, too. These important people should be the priority for Jesus. After all, little children will not increase their standing in Jerusalem. Jesus, on the other hand, takes this opportunity to drive home the point he had been trying to make about the Pharisee and the tax collector. He rebukes them for trying to send the mothers and children away. He points to the children and says it is exactly because they cannot do anything for themselves or anything to increase His standing that makes them so precious to Him. He is not looking for people who think they are important, He is looking for humble souls of simple faith. For by their simple faith in Him they are already a part of the Kingdom of God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Thank You for pointing to the children and reminding me that it is not what I can bring to You that You value, but that I simply trust. Amen.
Devotional Quote
The devil can quote Scripture for his purpose; and the text of Scripture which he now most commonly quotes is, “The Kingdom of heaven is within you.” That text has been the stay and support of more Pharisees and prigs and self-righteous spiritual bullies than all the dogmas in creation; it has served to identify self-satisfaction with the peace that passes all understanding. And the text to be quoted in answer to it is that which declares that no man can receive the kingdom except as a little child. What we are to have inside is a childlike spirit; but the childlike spirit is not entirely concerned about what is inside. It is the first mark of possessing it that one is interested in what is outside. The most childlike thing about a child is his curiosity and his appetite and his power of wonder at the world. We might almost say that the whole advantage of having the kingdom within is that we look for it somewhere else. ― G.K. Chesterton
Quote of the Day
It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion. — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart