Creator, Father, King #209

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

JESUS WAS A BUSY guy.

During his earthly ministry, the Son of God was constantly on the move, going from town to town, teaching the people God’s Word, healing the sick, and performing other amazing miracles. He endured many sleepless nights and rarely got a break from the huge, spiritually needy crowds who followed him. Even during his downtime, he was usually fellowshipping with his twelve disciples and preparing them for his death, resurrection, and return to heaven.

But Jesus was never too busy for children. We see this in a brief story in Matthew 19:13-15 when some children were brought to Jesus (most likely by their parents) for him to bless them. The disciples, lacking any compassion and heart for God’s Kingdom in that moment, sternly rebuked the people and tried to shoo the children off, considering them a nuisance. They thought Jesus was too important for kids.

Jesus “was angry with his disciples” (Mark 10:14).

“Let the children come to me,” he said. “Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children” (today’s verse). Then he blessed the children.

What’s It Mean?

Have you ever felt swept aside by society because of your age? Have you ever felt like adults don’t notice you? Have you ever felt like no one cares?

Take heart. There is a God in heaven who deeply cares about you.

Your generation matters to God. You matter to God. In one of his earlier discourses, Jesus issued a stern warning: “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father” (Matthew 18:10). Wow! If God specifically puts young people under angelic care, it’s clear you are special to him.

But there’s an even greater indication of God’s love for you. It’s found in John 3:16: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (ESV). God sacrificed his own Son so he could adopt you into his eternal family. This is supreme love.

Age doesn’t matter to God. But you do!

Now What?

Now that you know God loves youth, don’t use your age as an excuse when it comes to serving the Lord! Read the May 23 devotion on Jeremiah 1:7.

Did You Know?

Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.”