A Love for Children

As you sit in your airplane seat waiting to depart, you see a young family walking toward your row, the 5 year old jumps in the seat next to you and says, "This is my seat right next to you. What is your name?," what is going through your emotions and mind?

When you are in line at the grocery store and the cart in front of you has a 2 year old letting out an ear-piercing scream because their parent said "No" to the candy, how are you feeling?

When you see kids deliberately touching something when they can clearly read the sign, "Do not touch" or running when it says "Do not run," what do you think?

How about when you listen to kids outright lying, making up completely ridiculous stories trying to convince you it is absolute truth?

How do you view and treat children?

When the disciples were arguing about who is the greatest among them, why did Jesus bring a child into their midst?

Can you picture that scene...
On their travels, the disciples had a boisterous conversation about who was the best, Jesus asked them what they were talking about. When they arrived in Caupernaum, Jesus gathered them together and then He put a young child standing in the middle of them. Then Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not only welcome Me but also welcomes the One who sent Me.” Mark 9:35-37

What a powerful statement, how we treat, respond, deal with, relate to children is how we relate with Jesus and how we relate with God the Father.

Think of all the times Jesus relates with Children or talks with Children, more than we think.
-Jesus healed a child from a foreign woman.
-Jesus cast a demon out of a child.
-Jesus rose a little girl from the dead and a boy from Nan from the dead.
-Jesus picked up children and blessed them.
-Jesus used the few fish and loaves from a child to feed the thousands.
-Jesus taught adults to be more child like in their faith.
-Jesus was a child. He knows exactly what every child needs and wants.

How do you relate with children?

May we fully realize that loving every child means you are loving Jesus, Himself. 
May we fully realize that when we ignore children, avoid children and treat children as less important, that is how we are treating Jesus. Yikes... Reread Jesus' words in Mark 9:35-37.

Children's Ministry, Summer Camp, Nursery, Sunday School are all ways for us to specifically love Jesus.

Thanks everyone for serving the little children all week long at Summer Camp.
Pastor Chris