OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
There was a baby dedication in church, and five-year-old Emma watched intently as the pastor poured water on the tiny infant’s head and said some important sounding words. Confused by what she saw, Emma leaned over and whispered in her father’s ear, “Daddy, why is Pastor Bob brainwashing that baby?”
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Mark 10:13–16, “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 was the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whoever 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.”
Do you remember the comedy television show hosted by Art Linkletter called, “Kids say the Darndest Things”? The premise of the show relied in the fact that children are often guilty of saying some of the most embarrassing things, but completely truthful. And who amongst you, as parents today, can identify with that truth?
Art asked a 5-year-old boy what he wanted to be when he grew up. The little boy said, “A bus driver or a pilot.” Then Art asked him what he would say if he was flying a plane and all of the engines stopped. The boy thought for a moment, bowed his head, and then started to say, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”
After a wedding, the little ringbearer asked his father, “How many brides can the groom marry?” “One,” his father said. “Why do you ask?” Because the pastor said he could marry sixteen,” the boy said. “How’d you come up with that?” his father asked. “Easy,” the little boy said. “All you have to do is add it up, like the pastor said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer.”
A little boy was overheard praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."
The fact is kids do say the darndest things. But sometimes those things have validity to them. Children can often be heard quoting and reenacting things they have seen or heard by their parents and others. In fact, in the Book of Ephesians 5:1, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” This encourages us, like children who learn behaviorisms from watching their parents; to watch what God (our Father) does and then do it themselves. For example, a wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"
On an episode of “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” A 5-year-old was asked who the boss of his family was, his mother or his father. The boy answered, “bofe of them.” Art Linkletter then said, “Oh, so you’re a diplomat, huh.” And the boy answered: “No, I’m a Catholic Baptist.”
After that, Art asked a 6-year-old boy who he thought the most important man in the U. S. today. The boy answered, “George Washington.” Now, is George Washington married?” asked Art. The little boy answered, “Yes, sir.” Art asked if he knew what his wife’s name is and the child answered, “Miss America.”
One child was asked who his hero is. The child said that his dad is his hero. He was then asked why, and the child answered, “Because he is brave.” The final question was if his brave dad was afraid of anything. The child answered, “my mom.”
Then Art asked an 8-year-old girl, Karen, what she thought would make the perfect husband. She answered, “Well, he’d provide a lot of money, love horses, and would let me have 22 kids and doesn’t put up a fight.” Then Art asked the girl, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This little girl responded, “a nun.”
In John, 6:9, “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” How did this lad’s behavior personally changed or alter after watching Jesus in action? You can’t have a better mentor or role model than Jesus himself. And this reminds me of a pastor’s wife who was preparing pancakes for her young sons when the boys began arguing over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here,” she told them, He would say, “Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.” The younger boy turned to his brother and said, “You be Jesus.”
We are reminded in the Bible to become as children so that we can enter the kingdom. The actual scripture for this is read in Matthew 18:3 states: “and said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The core of our faith may be understood in the simplicity of a childhood song such as Jesus Loves Me, it’s also easily understood, so much so that its message may be overlooked. Jesus loves me this I know. Stated more simply, “I know Jesus loves me.”
Why is it that children believe in God at their ages? It is true that children will mimic what their parents and peers believe and do without debate. Perhaps because they aren’t as jaded as teens or adults have become because of negative people they’ve known as they grow older. Maybe they’re being led astray by too many atheists’ and liberal educators who have been assigned them as teachers in school. As young children, they’ve yet to be exposed to the world of the non-believers. Young children may ask some really shocking questions for their ages, but answering those questions with depth and meaning can really open their eyes and hearts to our Lord and Savior and what He offers they who believe.
One teacher asked Billy how old his father is. Billy answer that his father is 6. Puzzled by his answer, the teacher asked how that is even possible. Billy explained that his dad was not a father until he was born 6 years ago.
Another teacher asked Maria to go to the map on the wall and point out where North America is located. Maria got up and pointed to North America. The teacher told her she was correct. The teacher then asked the class “Who discovered America.” The class’s answer shocked the teacher. The class answered in unison that Maria had discovered America.
A teacher asked Glenn how he spelled Crocodile. Glenn recited, K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L. The teacher told him that he was wrong to spell Crocodile that way. Glenn responded that she may be right, but she asked him how he spelled it.
Another teacher asked Donald what the chemical formula is for water. Donald said it was “HIJKLMNO.” The teacher was confused and asked him to explain his answer. Donald told her that yesterday she said that the chemical formula for water is H to O.
Lastly, a teacher asked Harold what a person was called who kept talking after everyone stopped listening. Harold exclaimed, “a teacher.”
We often hate to admit it, but we are weak, weak in our devotion, in our testimony, in our battle with temptation. But God does not leave us in our weakness to struggle alone with forces beyond our ability to cope. Have you ever felt His hand on your shoulder, a supportive touch to let you know that despite any shortcomings that you are loved, and you are strengthened in Him? Usually, it comes via a brother or sister in the Lord. Jesus specializes in using others to convey His power and love. Most children tend to be stronger in the faith than the parents because they haven’t seen, heard, or learned enough to become jaded in their faith.
It has been said that children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression. This is so true. It is also true that children can make a great impression on us if we allow them. As adults, we need to be very cautious about what we say in the presence of children because at their young age, they’re like tape recorders. They’ll out you in a second if they catch you in a fib and correct you with what you really said. The same thing applies to our actions. Your kids most likely be just like their parents when grown, except maybe for a rebellious period in their teens and 20’s. If you cheat, they’ll grow up thinking it’s okay for them to do the same. If a child sees a parent mistreating others, then the child will grow up thinking it’s okay to do the same. If you’re mean spirited, so they will be, too. If you do the right things, say the right things, act in the right ways, and live a life of faith, then so shall they in most cases. In Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” But just as they can learn from you, we can learn as much of more from their genuineness and innocence. Jesus spoke a lot about children and how we are to treat them as well as the lessons that we can learn from them. One day, a Sunday School teacher was just finishing a lesson on honesty. “Do you know where children go if they don’t put their money in the collection plate?” the teacher asked. “Yes ma’am,” a boy blurted out. “They go to the movies.”
Here are some other stories from Sunday School Teachers:
“Dad, I want to ask you a question,” said little Josh after his first day of Sunday School. “Of course,” said his dad. “The teacher was reading the Bible, about the Children of Israel building the Temple, the Children of Israel crossing the Red Sea, the Children of Israel making the sacrifices,” said Josh. “So, what’s your question?” his dad asked. “Well, didn’t the grown-ups do anything?!”
The Teacher asks, “Now, Johnny, tell me frankly; do you say prayers before eating?” ”No sir,” little Johnny replies, “I don’t have to. My Mom is a good cook.”
A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to the church service, “does anyone know why it’s necessary to be quiet in church?"
One little girl replied, "Because a lot of people are sleeping."
Other words of wisdom from children are:
“Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
“When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don’t answer him.”
“Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”
“Never say ‘WOW’ when your mom’s standing on the scale.
“Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.”
“If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.”
“Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.”
“Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.”
“Never try to baptize a cat.”
How can anyone argue with this much wisdom? It has been said that children are the future of the church. As we study the Bible, we find that children are a vital part of the church today. Ministry to children and parenthood comes from intentional decisions to raise kingdom kids in the following ways:
The first thing that we need to do in order to raise kingdom kids is to bring them to Jesus. It is not enough to just drop them off at church. As parents, they need to act in the best interest of their children so they can follow your example. And what better example to children is there than Jesus Christ. Kids look to their parents to learn and as a way to be in all phases of life. Children will follow in their parents’ footsteps. Children need a touch from the Lord just like adults do. This is not optional.
Some things that we can learn from children are things like faith, forgiveness, unconditional love, humility, joy, repetition, and honesty. Matthew 18:4-5 says, “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." The Bible suggests that the kingdom of God is a place where people live in goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It also suggests that God desires for people to depend on him as children depend on their parents. Some characteristics of children in the kingdom of God include being humble, being obedient, being forgiving, being tolerant, being trusting, and being inquisitive. And yes, being inquisitive. Remember that next time your child asks “why” 52 times in a row to everything you say.
The word "bless" means to speak well of. Jesus spoke well of the children. The blessing had an element of both present and future tenses. To say to a child, negative things about people who they may become like in the future is damaging. We can become snared by our words. The opposite of a blessing is a curse. Jesus in this verse also touched the children indicating that words mixed with practical expressions were acceptable. Whatever we do for little children we actually do for Jesus.
God says it delights Him especially, to use a voice of a little boy to silence His enemy and the avenger. Satan is a mighty enemy because he tries to stop the sound of praise. He’ll tempt to destroy God’s church. He’ll instill false doctrine into the church. He’ll try to destroy any church. And God will defeat him. How? By little children.
We read in Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. But the beginning of life, the seed of life, is mine. The flower of life, the teenage years are mine. ”By the wonderful love of God alone, attend a church wherein almost every row has children, lots of children. Maybe they are writing notes. They are being taught to sit still. If your children won’t sit still or keep quiet, try this… After a worship service, a mother with a fidgety seven-year-old boy told us how she finally got her son to sit still and be quiet. About halfway through the sermon, she leaned over and whispered, “If you don’t be quiet, the pastor is going to lose his place and will have to start his sermon all over again!”
God ordains praise when the church worships and the children are present singing His praises. God ordains praise when they confess the name of God in your home. God ordains praise in the Christian school when children and teenagers confess His name.
What kind of conduct do you hold before your children? Do you argue and fight in front of your children? What is heard in your home? Then, as we live before our children, let us say, “Walk as I walk, do what I do, live as I live.” To all you parents, be those examples to your kids.
It is my prayer for you that it may it ever be so, not only for you, but for your children. Amen!
