If we look at the Word of God, we see the love and the simplicity that Jesus has for little children. Mark 10:13-16 (NKJV) says, "Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them."
As I'm growing older, God is giving me such patience and love for little children. It is such a pleasure for me to be able to spend time with my grandchildren. I am a very privileged man because God has blessed me and my wife, Jill, with eleven grandchildren and we also have many adopted children. My youngest grandchild is a mere nine months old and her name is Rebecca. One of the meanings of the word Rebecca is:"captivating."
She surely captivates me. In fact, she's got me right around her little finger. She is so beautiful, trusting and such a happy little soul. She is prepared to go to anyone who would like to hold her, and she brings a peace about her no matter what environment she's in - so simplistic in her ways.
Jesus requires you and me to have childlike faith and not childish faith. What is childlike faith? It is: to believe and not continue questioning,to be trusting, to live for the moment, and not to be so competitive like the world seems to teach us. In fact, Jesus wants us to be completely opposite to the world's standards. The world teaches us to fight for everything we have; that to be the best we must trampleon people all the way to the top; to not regard anyone else; but little children do not do that. They are giving, loving and trusting.
I can imagine the situation when Jesus had been preaching all day and was totally exhausted; then, the women bought little children to Jesus to ask Him to bless them.The disciples who loved the Lord could see that He was tired, so they tried to prevent the little ones to come to Him. But the Lord got quite irate and severely reprimanded His disciples. He said to them, I imagine quite sternly, "Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them." The Bible says that Jesus then blessed them, and He said to the disciples "unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 18:3)
Education is a wonderful thing and my children are all well-educated. I had the privilege of being able to afford to give them the best education I could, but education is not everything. One Prime Minister, Lloyd George, said "Education without Christ just makes clever little devils". That might sound a bit humorous, but it is true.Our children need Jesus and they need Him at all cost. It has been said "educators complicate, but communicators simplify". We need to keep the Gospel of Jesus Christ very simple because there is nothing difficult about it. Jesus even rebuked the Pharisees once about making it so hard for a man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 23:13). All that God requires from us is childlike faith.
I have another grandchild who is seven years old, Nathan. He heard his Khulu (the Zulu word for grandfather, which is what they call me) preaching a message on "quiet time". Spending time in the presence of God and putting the Lord first every day. He then wrote a message in his best handwriting on a piece of paper and gave it to me. It read, "Jesus is like a flame, you have to keep Him burning in your life." I was quite astounded when he gave me that piece of paper. In fact, I went and asked his father later when we were on our own if he had inspired Nathan to write that note, but he didn't know anything about it. That little boy realizes that if we don't spend time with the Lord, the fire of Christ in our hearts will go out. I haven't heard anything more profound!
Let us rather spend more time getting to know Jesus personally than trying to make Him academic. He is "a friend who sticks closer than a brother". (Proverbs 18:24).
God bless you as you develop your relationship with the Lord and as you study the characteristics of young children; that is how sincere our faith we ought to be if we are to enter God's Kingdom.
God bless
Angus Buchan
