Speaking to the Soul – February 26

Let the children come to me

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:16-17

Jesus continually surprised people, but his reaction to children would have been particularly astonishing to his hearers. In Jesus’ time, children had no status or protection in law. At best, they were regarded as potential adults who needed to be seen but certainly not heard.

The disciples were keen to protect their rabbi, Jesus, from the children so that he could get on with the serious business of instructing the adults. But, as so often was the case, Jesus turned their thinking upside down. Not only did Jesus welcome the children but said that they provided the role model for his disciples to follow.

What was Jesus getting at? He clearly wasn’t encouraging his followers to be childish. He was affirming that he wanted them to come to him with a spirit of openness and simplicity. The beauty of children is that they haven’t lived long enough to make life complicated. He wanted his followers to come to him with that simple trust.

I feel sure that he also wanted to encourage a spirit of adventure in them. I love seeing the delight in children’s eyes when they are experiencing something new. The Christian life is a daily adventure in which God is constantly inviting us to face new challenges and opportunities. Only a childlike attitude will do.

Jesus’ words couldn’t have been stronger. Not only were children role models for every Christian disciple, but Jesus declared that if anyone refused to come to him like a child, they would be denied entry into the kingdom of God. That’s a very blunt message – but he wants them to know that an arrogant person will never be welcomed by God. It is only as we humble ourselves like children and come to God with empty hands that he is able to bless us.

QUESTION
What do you most need to learn from the example of children?

PRAYER
Help me, Lord, to become more and more childlike as I place my trust more firmly in you. Amen

Once again this week’s flowers are from St Colman’s Parish Church, Dunmurry where the compiler of CNI was ordained priest and served as curate-assistant. Fond memories.