If you have never taken the time to watch, observe, talk to, play with, and learn from little children, you are missing one of the greatest blessings God ever gave to this earth!
“Suffer the little to children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of heaven.”
“of such is the kingdom of heaven”
If you ever want to feel close to heaven, spend some quality time with very young children. God says that there are so many lessons to be learned of them:
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Is. 11: 6
“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily (truly) I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18: 2-4
To have children is to have a great and precious gift from God.
“He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children…” Psalm 113: 9
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward…Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them…” Psalm 127: 3, 5
If someone gave you a jewel worth millions of dollars, how would you treat that jewel? Would you just leave it laying around any old place? Would you just throw it in your drawer and forget about it? Would you just hand it over to any stranger not knowing anything about their personal character and ask them to take care of it for you?
I would guess not. Yet, that is exactly how many people in this world are treating one of the greatest blessing God ever committed into our hands. Little angelic souls, waiting, trusting, hoping, full of faith, looking to us adults to feed them not just food, but manna from heaven. Looking up to us to feed their little souls and teach them about Jesus.
Are you valuing the children God has placed in your life? I am not just talking about your own children, although they are definitely included too, but any children you have an influence upon. What value do you place on them. God places a tremendous value on them. He says they are close to the Kingdom of heaven. He says, “And whoso receiveth one such little child in my name receiveth me.” Matthew 18: 5 That is the same as God said about his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God placed their value the same as Jesus Christ!
If you are despising any young child in your life, did you know that God has a warning to you?
“Take heed (watch yourself) that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18: 10
Little children have a direct and instant connection with almighty God. He knows and sees everything that is happening to them the moment it is happening. There is a great woe to anyone that is hurting a little child:
“But whoso shall offend (cause to sin) one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18: 6
You see, we have a grave and great responsibility to the children in our lives. Those little eyes are vulnerable and impressionable. We need to be an example before them at all times causing their faith in Christ to grow. They should never be led to sin by our example. That is offending them.
“And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.”
God will hold us accountable for what we provoked our children to. Did we provoke them, by the way we live our lives, by our harshness and by our words to sin? to a grow up into a life with the wrath of God on it? Or did we bring them up nurturing and teaching them the ways of God, with love and care, placing great value on their little souls.
Some of the things I have learned from little children:
- They have a pure and simple trust and faith in God- you tell them about God, they receive it whole heartedly.
- They do not hold a grudge- they get angry, but it soon is completely forgotten.
- They laugh easily, find life full of excitement.
- They are easily entertained.
- They are eager to please and to help.
- They love everyone, they don’t see colors of skin or nationality, nor IQ-
- They are not fake, nor “politically correct.” They say what they mean and mean what they say.
- They love to learn new things.
- They have lots of energy.
- They do not eat when they are not hungry.
- They are insatiably fascinated with all of God’s creation.
- They are copy-cats.
- They love to sing and dance.
- They are very sensitive to negative feelings of others. If a another child cries, they stop whatever they are doing. They desire to see the child happy again. If someone is in a bad mood, they pick up on it immediately.
- Their prayers are simple and full of thank yous!
“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” Mark 10: 13-16
Thank you, thank you for this! Today is the day that we contacted a particular adoption agency and have felt very good about it, that God has opened the door to. We are encouraged and hopeful about it, as God has closed doors elsewhere. Our desire is to have the child/ren He trusts and gives to us to raise, teach, love and share His Truths with.
Thank you, thank you for this..today. :)
Especially, “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children…” Psalm 113: 9
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Amen. I look at Toby all the time and think of the things you mentioned above. What a absolute blessing and joy he is and the mere fact that God even let me be a part of such a miracle and to see a glimpse into the pure innocence and purity of a precious baby just makes me feel SO loved and special! I never TRULY understood it all until I had my own! Word just can’t describe…
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