Jesus Loves The Little Children
Posted: October 30th, 2008, 1:33 am
HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #129i Re-Written 30OCT08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw
Gatekeepers—Part Nine: Jesus Loves The Little Children
by rev dave c
O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old--what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their forefathers--a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him (Ps 78: 1-8: NIV).
The First Person of the Godhead is described as “The Father” and Christ is “The Son.” We need to remember that this relationship is not modeled upon mankind’s parent/child structure—rather the entire structure of the human family is modeled upon the divine and eternal inter-relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Ep 5:22-33). Within this model children are held throughout the Bible as a symbol of humility and helplessness, and yet they are the hope for the future. Psalm 27 tells us that children are a reward from God and blessed are the parents whose “quiver is full of them.” As we would expect, Jesus repeatedly demonstrates His absolute love for children by both His words and His actions as portrayed in the Gospels. In Mark 10:13-15 we read, People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them (NIV).
All people are precious to God, of every age and type—but it is often the children who most willingly return the love of Christ and who most readily embrace His Gospel of Good News. Luke tells us in 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure (NIV). And in Matthew 21:14-16 we are told: The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "`From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" (NIV).
Earlier, in Matthew 18:1-5, Scripture provides a small window into the heart of our Lord: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me (NIV). And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me—what about, “whoever neglects a little child”...what about, “whoever abuses a little child”...or what about, “whoever murders a little child”? In whose name do we do those things? Whom do we welcome into our lives and into the life of our nation through our continued political support and/or silent endorsement of such an evil and vile practice as abortion on demand?
Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts (NIV). The message of these verses is plain enough: “As we show compassion to our children [all our children, including the pre-born] so shall the Lord have compassion on us...our days are numbered and brief and all that we hold dear out of pride and material desire is short lived...but His blessings [and curses] are forever as righteously judged based upon our fear of Him and our obedience to His precepts.”
First Thessalonians 2:6 ...As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. ... 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory (NIV). What Paul intends as a reassurance to the Church (to us) becomes a curse depending upon how we, as mothers and fathers, have cared for and dealt with our children; with love, compassion, and encouragement—or with “a morning after pill,” a scalpel, and a pair of scissors? Will Christ deal with us as we have dealt with the least of His brothers and sisters? We sing, “Jesus loves the little children,” but do we? As we publicly, or silently, support those who murder our babies with purposeful zeal—our answer becomes a hoarse whisper, “No...we despise our children as sacrifices to spend upon altars built to demons.” God forgive us. Lord, forgive me. Amen.
Gatekeepers—Part Nine: Jesus Loves The Little Children
by rev dave c
O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old--what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their forefathers--a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him (Ps 78: 1-8: NIV).
The First Person of the Godhead is described as “The Father” and Christ is “The Son.” We need to remember that this relationship is not modeled upon mankind’s parent/child structure—rather the entire structure of the human family is modeled upon the divine and eternal inter-relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Ep 5:22-33). Within this model children are held throughout the Bible as a symbol of humility and helplessness, and yet they are the hope for the future. Psalm 27 tells us that children are a reward from God and blessed are the parents whose “quiver is full of them.” As we would expect, Jesus repeatedly demonstrates His absolute love for children by both His words and His actions as portrayed in the Gospels. In Mark 10:13-15 we read, People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them (NIV).
All people are precious to God, of every age and type—but it is often the children who most willingly return the love of Christ and who most readily embrace His Gospel of Good News. Luke tells us in 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure (NIV). And in Matthew 21:14-16 we are told: The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "`From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" (NIV).
Earlier, in Matthew 18:1-5, Scripture provides a small window into the heart of our Lord: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me (NIV). And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me—what about, “whoever neglects a little child”...what about, “whoever abuses a little child”...or what about, “whoever murders a little child”? In whose name do we do those things? Whom do we welcome into our lives and into the life of our nation through our continued political support and/or silent endorsement of such an evil and vile practice as abortion on demand?
Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts (NIV). The message of these verses is plain enough: “As we show compassion to our children [all our children, including the pre-born] so shall the Lord have compassion on us...our days are numbered and brief and all that we hold dear out of pride and material desire is short lived...but His blessings [and curses] are forever as righteously judged based upon our fear of Him and our obedience to His precepts.”
First Thessalonians 2:6 ...As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. ... 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory (NIV). What Paul intends as a reassurance to the Church (to us) becomes a curse depending upon how we, as mothers and fathers, have cared for and dealt with our children; with love, compassion, and encouragement—or with “a morning after pill,” a scalpel, and a pair of scissors? Will Christ deal with us as we have dealt with the least of His brothers and sisters? We sing, “Jesus loves the little children,” but do we? As we publicly, or silently, support those who murder our babies with purposeful zeal—our answer becomes a hoarse whisper, “No...we despise our children as sacrifices to spend upon altars built to demons.” God forgive us. Lord, forgive me. Amen.