Lessons from the Life of a Child

Another group of people that Jesus stepped outside of the box with was children. Parents often brought children to the Rabbis of the day to have them bless the children and to pray for them. Although children in Jesus’ day were deeply cherished, they were thought in some ways to be negligible members of society: their place was to learn, to be respectful, and to listen. It is possible that the number of children being brought to Jesus seemed a bit excessive in the eyes of the disciples.

Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15

In an earlier chapter Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” What are the life lessons that Jesus wants us to learn from the life of a child? Maybe it is the total dependence, the full trust, the honest openness and the complete sincerity. Thoughts of what someone else is going to think or say about them is not an inhibitor. Wow! I feel convicted, even as I write. Once again Jesus moves outside the norm of the day in order to teach a valuable lesson to those who were there. It is a lesson that bears repeating over and over in our own lives as we grow up in Him.

Take some time today to think about the lessons that God may want to teach you from the life of your own child, or the children around you if you do not have children of your own. As you prayerfully seek the heart of God over those lessons He has for you, take some time to pray for the children that God has placed around you. Pray for ongoing protection over their bodies and their minds as they grow up in Christ.

Take some time to read Matthew 18:1-6; Luke 18:15-17 Share your insights with someone else and ask them to pray for you as well as you praying for them.