Jesus and Little Children

Matthew 19-20 contains the famous story about Jesus being a kid-magnet.

A major teaching of these two chapter is highlighted in this story: "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first" 19v30.

Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these...little children are not to be hindered in coming to Jesus.

Several thoughts:

Jesus must be alright if kids like him - he's good, he's funny, he's strong, he's playful, he's kindhearted with them.

The way of Jesus is a way that kids can travel. It doesn't mean building a good kids program at church, or a simplistic religion, or naive spirituality. It means living in such a way that kids are welcome, kids are played with, kids are infused with goodness, and strength, truth, and kindness. And our motive for such is how Jesus interacts with children...God is our Father and we are his children. Seeing how Jesus welcomed kids on his knee, we can picture how God wants us to play catch with him.

Not trying to sound trite, but God is both very big and powerful and mysterious, but also very present, and very real, and very involved.

I was reading through the website for the ONE Campaign - there are so many little children that bear the brunt of humanity's atrocities: hunger, violence, corruption, negligence, AIDS, etc take their worst toll on little children.

In being a father to Emma, Levi, Isaac and Baby Hallman, I want them to grow up in the way of Jesus - as described above; and I want them to look out for, protect other kids who need some strong kindness. That's how I take care of the kids in my neighborhood; and there are people like ONE and others who help take care of kids around the world. Like Jesus.