Series: Playing A New Game [#5]
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
Luke 18:15-17
Introduction:
As I did last week, I checked the calendar to see what things are celebrated today. I found something very interesting. Today is “Abused Women and Children’s Day” as well as “Multicultural American Child Day”. As I thought about that, I thought about a song we used to sing a lot when I was a child- “Jesus Loves The Little Children”. I googled the song so that I could make sure I had the words right; and I realized that I had searched a very controversial song. The song goes like this: “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”
Apparently, the reason that it is controversial is because some say that this song is racist. Then there was the question about the original version of this song that says, “Red, brown, yellow, black & white”. Others changed the lyrics. “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Every color, shape and size, they are precious in his eyes. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”
Each person was so busy arguing about their opinion that they missed the important point of the song- Jesus loves children. After today’s service, we are going to have a planning meeting for VBS. If our purpose of VBS is not to lift up Jesus to these children; then we shouldn’t have it.
Luke 18:15-17 (NIV)
“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Jesus commands us in how we are to handle children.
1. Do not hinder children from going to Jesus.
We live in a time when children are given choices whether they want to go to Church or not. To make matters worse, they only hear about Jesus at Church. When we allow other things to keep our children from learning about God and what Jesus has done for us; then we are guilty of hindering these children from going to Jesus.
2. We need to learn from children how to have faith.
When we talk about child-like faith, we are talking about faith that is simple and strong. The older we get, the more we begin to try to reason things out.
Conclusion:
Christians, we need to make sure that we do not do anything that would hinder children from going to Jesus. We are the ones that God is using to lift Jesus up to these children so that their lives can be changed forever.
