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. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Thought for Today
How hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus has been hammering this theme all the way to Jerusalem. It is hard of the rich, the self-righteous, and the busy to enter the Kingdom. It is hard because we want it to be about us at least a little bit. We want to be able to enter the Kingdom saying, “See what I did? Sure, Jesus did most of it, but I added this to it!” Jesus points to the little children as the model of the faith that is required to enter the Kingdom of God. Children belong to the Kingdom of God because they believe Jesus when He says they are part of His family. When you were growing up did you ever question why you belong to your family? No, we are born into a family and we accept that as our heritage. It simply is who we are and the family history is our history. Jesus says we need to receive the Kingdom of God like that. He said in your baptism you became a part of His family. That means His Father is your Father. His history is your history. You don’t earn your right to be a part of the family. It is yours by right. Why do we work so hard to earn the right to be in God’s family when it is ours by right? Receive the Kingdom of God like a child. Accept that it is simply true and rejoice that you are a part of God’s family!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise You that I am a part of Your family! Help me to live like I belong to You today. Amen.
Devotional Quote
The kingdom of God is an upside-down kingdom. It beckons us to gamble all, to trust radically, to come and die so that we might live--to give our lives away. Giving life away is a paradox. It's losing so we can win. It's giving so we can receive. It's risking for security. It's faith. The kingdom of God means living that tension. ― Ken Wytsma
Quote of the Day
Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself. — Thomas a Kempis
Let the Little Children Come
Luke 18: 17
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. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Thought for Today
How hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus has been hammering this theme all the way to Jerusalem. It is hard of the rich, the self-righteous, and the busy to enter the Kingdom. It is hard because we want it to be about us at least a little bit. We want to be able to enter the Kingdom saying, “See what I did? Sure, Jesus did most of it, but I added this to it!” Jesus points to the little children as the model of the faith that is required to enter the Kingdom of God. Children belong to the Kingdom of God because they believe Jesus when He says they are part of His family. When you were growing up did you ever question why you belong to your family? No, we are born into a family and we accept that as our heritage. It simply is who we are and the family history is our history. Jesus says we need to receive the Kingdom of God like that. He said in your baptism you became a part of His family. That means His Father is your Father. His history is your history. You don’t earn your right to be a part of the family. It is yours by right. Why do we work so hard to earn the right to be in God’s family when it is ours by right? Receive the Kingdom of God like a child. Accept that it is simply true and rejoice that you are a part of God’s family!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise You that I am a part of Your family! Help me to live like I belong to You today. Amen.
Devotional Quote
The kingdom of God is an upside-down kingdom. It beckons us to gamble all, to trust radically, to come and die so that we might live--to give our lives away. Giving life away is a paradox. It's losing so we can win. It's giving so we can receive. It's risking for security. It's faith. The kingdom of God means living that tension. ― Ken Wytsma
Quote of the Day
Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself. — Thomas a Kempis