Articles
Let the Little Children Come to Me
“LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME!”
While many of the leaders of the Jewish people and His own disciples were upset when children were brought to Christ to be healed, Jesus answered, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14) In Matthew 21:15-16, we read that the chief priests and the scribes were indignant when children began crying out in the temple saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” Jesus replied to them by quoting Psalm 8 saying, “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes thou hast prepared praise for Thyself.” Dismissing the children and what they could do for the Lord is something that seems to still permeate our society today. Children are often looked upon as a nuisance when they cry or misbehave in the assembly. Many denominations don’t even allow children in the worship services. They go to another place for “Children’s Church.” How different from what Jesus taught in the above verses!
The bible contains several examples of young children providing meaningful service to God. Miriam watched over her infant brother, Moses, and then suggested their mother become his nurse. Moses benefitted from his family’s influence in his formative years.
An unnamed Israelite girl pointed Naaman the leper toward healing by Elisha the prophet. This girl kept her faith in God and the prophet even though she grew up in the idolatrous Northern Kingdom.
Joash and Josiah were two of the best kings ever to reign over Judah. Joash became king at seven and Josiah became king at eight. Joash came from an awful family background, but his uncle Jehoiada, the priest, influenced him to follow God. Josiah had an idolatrous father and may have been encouraged by his godly mother, Jedidah.
We should never underestimate what young children can do for God even now as they are growing and later in their lives. Much depends on the training and instruction they receive when they are young. Parents bear enormous responsibility as do other Christians in raising the children correctly. These young children will soon be the elders, deacons, song leaders, Bible class teachers, and faithful Christians of the church in years to come.
How are we preparing our young children and grandchildren to be men and women of God? Written by Larry Schneider
