Lenten Reader | Day 29

As the children’s director, this is a favorite passage of mine. What is more important than bringing kids to learn about Jesus? I feel this is parents’ biggest responsibility. If we don’t teach our kids early we miss the best time in their lives to make a difference.

But, who can blame the disciples for trying to free up Jesus’ time for the “more important people?” The kids were probably noisy, messy, crying, dirty, running around... You know, kids. The disciples were just trying to do crowd control!

However, Jesus had a more important point to make. We like the idea of Jesus loving little children, but he continues, saying, “for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” We have to become like children to belong in God’s kingdom? Now that seems strange! But children are completely dependent on their parents to provide for them. A child will jump into your arms, trusting you to catch him. A child loves her parents even when she doesn't get everything she wants. Children are humble, trusting, forgiving, and know who to turn to when in need. Do we depend on God with faith like this?

Jesus continues saying we must “receive the kingdom of God like a little child” in order to enter it. Have you ever read a story to a little one? You finish, and the child says AGAIN! So you read the story again. And again. And AGAIN! We should be like this. We should read his Word again and again and AGAIN! We should pray to him again and again and AGAIN! We should gather with other Christians again and again and AGAIN! We should worship him again and again and AGAIN! Are you like a child asking for God’s presence again and again and AGAIN?

Let’s be like children.

-Molly Lloyd