This post is Day 20 in a series of studies about “Babies and Children”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Babies and Children – Day 20

The disciples were trying to protect Jesus from being bothered and distracted by the children. They were full of good intentions, but Jesus used those same children as a teaching aid! He was telling His listeners that they must become like children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mark 10:13-16

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you that anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

The Thought

The disciples were trying to protect Jesus from being bothered and distracted by the children. These close followers were trying to protect their master. They were full of good intentions, but they had not understood the situation. Jesus used those same children as a teaching aid! He was telling His listeners that they must become like children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

What does “receive the kingdom of God like a little child” mean?

Most children believe what you say to them without question, they do not disbelieve fairy stories that are read to them from a young age, and when they hear Bible stories, they can trust Jesus to do the same things for them.

A little personal story here: When our eldest granddaughter was 3 years old, our daughter was praying with her one night. Suddenly the mum felt that she should ask the little one to pray for her as she was going that same evening to pray with a friend who was going through a difficult time. The three year old prayed a very simple prayer, and promptly said to her surprised mother: That lady has a problem because of the bad things others said to her when she was at school! That proved to be true, and healing of that friend began with forgiveness later that evening.

Action

Pray for your church to teach truth to the children, and to involve them in prayer from a young age. Ask God to help the families in your church group to pray together at home.

Be an encourager yourself in this area.

Read Matthew 18:1-6 for another short message of Jesus about children.

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