RECEIVING THE KINGDOM

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then people brought little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked 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

People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.

When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Luke 18:15-17

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Jesus holds a special place in His heart for children. We know this because He shows it in the scriptures through His words and actions.

In an earlier devotion, we found Jesus using children as an example for how He wants His disciples to live after being asked by His followers, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1) Here’s what He had to say then:

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

Jesus wanted to make the point that those who wanted to be great in heaven’s kingdom would have to seek to be lowly first, like a child. It was a totally counterintuitive statement for most people would believe you would have to do something spectacular in order to elevate to a place of greatness in heaven, just as people ascend to prominence in the world. But as we know, much of what Jesus said was completely opposite of what the world would propose for His ways were definitely not like the world’s. Not by a long shot.

Well, as we have moved ahead in our study of Matthew’s Gospel, we find where Jesus once again brings children into the picture in regard to the kingdom of heaven but this time it isn’t in regard to the matter of greatness but rather entry into the kingdom. Look at His words here from Mark’s account of this exchange between Jesus and His disciples:

People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.

When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.  Mark 10:13-16

Did I mention Jesus held a special place in His heart for children?

We see it first-hand here as the scriptures tell us people were bring their children to Jesus so He could place His hands on them and provide His blessing. As this happened, and for reasons unknown, we read where the disciples started rebuking the people, something that raised Jesus’ ire and these words of direction:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Here we learn three key things:

1. Jesus wishes for every little child to have access to Him without hindrance.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them…”

When the disciples tried to stop the people from bringing their children to Jesus, He made it clear His followers were not to hamper those efforts in any way.

2. The kingdom of heaven belongs to little children.

“…for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

I’ve heard people wonder before about whether or not a child goes to heaven if they die before being old enough to understand the matter of sin and salvation and the salvation that comes from Jesus. I believe Jesus makes it very clear here that little children will inherit the kingdom of heaven, asserting that the “kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

3. No one will enter the kingdom of heaven unless they receive it as a little child does.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

What is Jesus getting at here?

You have to first look at the way little children approach faith and belief in Jesus to find the answer.

I believe I have shared before that my wife and I teach pre-schoolers at our church, anywhere from five to fifteen in any given week. We have such a good time with this age group because they love to learn and talk about Jesus. They accept and receive Him without reservation and approach any teaching about Him with energy and eagerness and excitement. They gladly receive anything we bring to them about the kingdom of God and Jesus wants every man and woman to do the same.

How well do you receive the kingdom of heaven in your own life?

Do you receive it as a little child?

These are questions we all need to address. My prayer is our answers place us firmly in the kingdom of heaven in the company of Jesus and all the little children He welcomes with love.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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