#DailyDevotion If You’re Going To Be Saved You Need To Grow Down

Mark 10:13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 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. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

 

People will often bring their kids to famous people to see them. We’re not quite sure for what purpose they were brining their children to Jesus but it was perhaps so that he would bless them, which he eventually did. But when they did the disciples rebuked them. I guess they thought Jesus had better things to be doing than blessing little children. Maybe they thought little children were beneath the value of Jesus. Children were not terribly valued in the ancient world or at least not valued in the same way as we value them now. Indeed it wasn’t long ago my grandmother told me, as a child, children should be seen and not heard. For the most part they were beneath even slaves because they were not fully formed and their ultimate worth had not yet been determined yet.

 

But Jesus gets indignant with his disciples. He is very mad at them. You might even say he gets red in the face mad. Maybe that might adjust your understanding of Jesus. He isn’t like Barney the dinosaur.

 

Jesus says to let the little children come unto him because such belongs the kingdom of God. Note he doesn’t say they must reach the age of accountability before they can come to him or we can bring them to him. Nope, little children are ripe for the kingdom of heaven. Indeed Jesus says we need to grow down and receive the kingdom of God like a little child to enter into the kingdom of God.

 

What are children like that we must emulate to enter the kingdom of God. We must become helpless, dependent, and humble. To enter the kingdom of heaven we must be brought to Jesus with nothing. We cannot come to him telling all that we did that we deserve to enter into the kingdom of heaven. We cannot parade all our credits as to why we are worthy. No we come to Jesus and say, “I got nothing but your promise.” Such people receive the kingdom like a little child. They are promised something and they believe they will receive it.

 

And finally Jesus blesses the little children laying his hands on them. Jesus continues to bless children who are brought to him through his disciples in the water of baptism. (Joh 4:1-2 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John  (2)  (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),) Jesus puts his name on them and on us and welcomes us into his kingdom.

 

Heavenly Father, grant us the humility of spirit that we may be brought to Jesus like a little child and receive him with childlike faith so we may enter into the kingdom of God and receive all your blessings. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.