Encouraging Children

A large cathedral was having its beautiful, hand carved doors replaced with ones that were lighter and easier to open. A gentleman walking by the church stopped and asked the foreman the reason for changing the doors.

“Because,” came the reply, “they are too heavy for children. No church should have doors that are too difficult for children to open.”

Jesus set the example for us to follow in our relationships with children. He said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them!”

What a precious picture of Jesus – perhaps one of the most important in the Gospels. He was the kind of person whom children loved. George MacDonald said, “People could never be followers of Jesus if the children were afraid of Him.” The love He spoke of must have been obvious to everyone who saw Him. He was never too busy to be interrupted or too tired to be disturbed. He gave His all to everyone who needed Him.

Jesus also seemed to say that children were nearer to God than anyone else. Why? Because of their trust and truthfulness, simplicity and sincerity. As we age, we seem to grow further from God rather than closer. Might we learn from this truth and ask God for a child-like faith?

Prayer: Help us, Father, to live lives that attract the young, the old and everyone in between who need You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Matthew 19:13-15 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”