Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”
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. (Mark, 10:14)
Learning Jesus' Love from Little Children
When Jesus saw the disciples restraining those who were bringing the little children to Him, He was angry. Why? Because the adults saw the children as an interruption to their serious adult conversation. Jesus, on the other hand, knew children to be refreshing, giving without taking, accepting without judging, loving without hating. Adults come to Jesus for what they can get—healing, teaching, food, and blessing. Children come to Jesus giving their love, asking for nothing in return. Children love with a love that is quick to forgive and unwilling to hold a grudge. Children are teachable, following the lead of those around them, eager to learn, and content to live by their leader’s rules—even though they don’t understand them. Of such is the kingdom of God. This is the foundation of the Christian journey.
As adults, we tend to undervalue children, looking forward to the day they become adults like us. Instead, Jesus tells us that we must become like little children. When He addresses the crowds, He treats the children with tenderness and compassion. As a result, they are drawn to Him. They run after Him, cling to Him, and enjoy time with Him. There is much to learn from the young lives that intersect our adult lives, but we must also strive to teach them, for they will instinctively imitate us. When we extend care for them, they see us portraying Jesus’ attributes—kindness, wisdom, strength, tenderness, sympathy—and they, too, will naturally be drawn to us and to our values (Prov. 22:6).
Edward Payson, an early 19th Century preacher, writes:
What if God should place in your hand a diamond and tell you to inscribe on it a sentence that should be read on the last day and shown there as an index of your thoughts and feelings! What care, what caution, would you exercise in the selection! Now, this is what God has done. He has placed before you immortal minds, more imperishable than the diamond, on which you are about to inscribe every day and every hour, by your instructions, by your spirit, or by your example, something which will remain and be exhibited for or against you at the judgment day.
How can you demonstrate God’s love, kindness, and wisdom to a little child today? What child has He placed in your life to teach you about giving, accepting, and loving? Has God given you a child to imitate? Won’t you “let the little children come to [you]”? Do you know a child that you can be like Jesus, “taking children on His knee, saying, ‘Let them come to Me.”?
Taking Time to Learn From a Child
When I was a little girl, my mom would regularly have tea parties with a handicapped neighbor boy. She shared Jesus’ love with him during these visits. It didn’t take much—a glass of milk, a cookie, and a few minutes to listen to his stories. I think she received more than she gave every time. She gave a little of her time and in return, received blessings from a child and from God.
Your Turn: Is there a child in your life that you could have a tea party with? Invite them over. Bake cookies together, play a game, go for a walk; just spend a little time together. Ask the Lord to teach you something about Himself through time spent with this child. Take a picture of your time together and give it to the child. Place a picture on your fridge as a prayer reminder. You might even want to plan another special time together. God has much to teach you about Himself through the children He has placed in your life.