A first grader became curious because her father brought home a briefcase full of papers every evening. Her mother explained, “Daddy has so much to do that he can’t finish it all at the office. That’s why he has to bring work home at night.” “Well then,” asked the child innocently, “why don’t they put him in a slower group?”
God has set the pace for us. He gives instructions and commands. He asks nothing from us that he has not already done.
[Actor, Dale Robertson told me that during WWII he would never order his men to do anything he would not do himself. When his division came across a suspected minefield he and his driver drove across it to make sure it was safe for the rest of the soldiers to cross.
Luke 18.15-17
I. The Place of Children – “How is God like a Child?”
A. In church growth we know that if we reach children we reach their parents.
B. Key Qualities Shared by God and Children:
1. Creative – In the beginning . . .
[Kindergarteners were surveyed and asked how many thought they were talented as artists – the vast majority believed they were; by late elementary school only a few believed in their artistic abilities;
There’s a lovely story of the father and son who were driving through town together when they came upon a traffic jam. Up ahead they could see that a large semi-trailer with a high load had become wedged under a railway overpass. The father experienced only the frustration of being held up and the anxiety all the trouble they would be in when they finally made it home. His son however experienced a world of unbelievable wonder. There were police everywhere and fire trucks and a big crane. There was even a train stopped at the approach to the bridge. There were important men standing around pointing and trying to figure out how to get the truck out.
While his father was sitting in the car fuming the boy could no longer contain himself. He urged his father to get out of the car and go over and have a closer look. Urged is probable not quite the right word as the young boy opened the door and raced away his father had little choice but to follow. When the father eventually caught up with his son he found him even more excited. “I know how to get the truck out dad!” he cried out. His father tried to calm him by assuring him that there were many trained people around to solve the problem (he did note however that things were a bit light on in the action department so far.) The boy ran to an important man in a yellow hat and tried to tell him his solution but the man was more concerned for the boy’s safety and shooed him away. The young fellow persisted until he found someone who would listen - all the time dragging an exhausted dad behind him. “What do you think we should do?” asked the man. “If you want to get the truck out all you have to do is let the air out of the tires!”
2. Wonder-filled – WOW! – It is good/very good
3. Sense of Humor – Giraffe; Ostrich; Duck-billed Platypus
[The average child laughs 400 times a day. The average adult laughs 15 times a day.
What happens in life that makes adults lose their laughter? Do we quit laughing because we are old, or do we get old because we quit laughing?
4. Celebrations – daily; weekly; monthly; annually
5. Teachable – Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Hebrews 5.8
6. Innocent – 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53.7
II. The Power of Blessing
A. We Bless God for His Blessings –
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty, Psalm 104.1
1. Verbal Blessings of Yeshua (Jesus)
Regarding meals – 5000; 4000 – “Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth.”
Passover (LS) – Bread -- “Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”
FOV -- “Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.”
2. There are virtually blessings for everything – 1 Thessalonians 5.17
“Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive and brought us to this special time.”
3. God gives the good – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1.17
B. God is the Ultimate Giver of Blessings
Adam & Eve – Genesis 1.28
Abraham – Genesis 12.2-3
Isaac to His Sons – Genesis 27.4
Jacob to his sons – Genesis 49.28
Aaron to the Nation – Numbers 6.24-26
24The LORD bless you and keep you; 25the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
C. The Blessing of Children
[Sabbath blessings to children:
The Blessing for a Daughter
May God make you as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
The Blessing for a Son
May God make you as Ephraim and Menashe
Over both:
May God bless you and keep you!
May God shine God’s face toward you and favor you!
May God lift up God’s face toward you and grant you shalom!
In the days of Yeshua (Jesus) and even today parents desired blessings from righteous people for their children. God is the source of all blessings. The righteous are the conduits for these blessings. This may be the reasons for healings, etc. in the first century.
This is bigger than getting a picture with a politician.
III. The Potential of Touch
A. Touch is Powerful
Many years ago, a King wanted to see what language children would speak if they did not hear adults talking. So, he commanded the workers in orphanages not to speak to babies and to touch them as little as possible. They were only to give the children sustenance. The result of the experiment was that most of the children died. They found out that there is more to life than food and water. Loving touch is also important.
B. Touch Expresses the Emotions of:
Anger to Affection
Approval (Pat on the back)
Acceptance (Handshake)
C. Yeshua (Jesus) Touched:
1. Children (insignificant)
2. Outcasts – lepers; ill; immoral (unclean)
God tells us to become like little children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.
He has already shown us how to do that.
"We often learn the most from our children. Some time ago a man criticized his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, 'This is for you, Daddy.'
"He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, 'Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?' The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, 'Oh Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box – All for you, Daddy.'
"The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her forgiveness. He later said that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
Innocence/Purity/Love
