A Daily Devotional:
MATTHEW 18:1-9 [NIV]:
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
This is a story about a little girl who, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the Preacher's sermon this morning confused me."
The mother said, "Oh! Why is that?"
The girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?"
"Yes, that's true," the mother replied.
"He also said that God lives within us. Is that true, too?"
Again the mother replied, "Yes."
"Well," said the girl. "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn't He show through?"
Kids open and honest types of questions are so often cute and refreshing. "Out of the mouths of babes" come so many things showing how impressionable that a child can be. So many times, adults are so caught up in their own little worlds that they forget what it is like to be a child. As such, they miss so much, having become hardened by life’s troubles and their own struggles with success (or lack of it).
Jesus’ love for children is clear in Scripture. He never turned a kid away. He always had a heart for each and ever one of them that came His way. In fact, He was protective of children, as He was well aware of how impressionable and persuadable that young ones are. They can be so easily damaged by wrongful influences yet they can also be so quickly elevated and uplifted by proper influences.
What do you think of when you see a child? How do you respond? Are you cold and impatient or are you warm and loving? Take time, today, to spend precious time in loving, in encouraging, and in teaching a child as you share God’s love, - that special love that we see in Jesus’ example as to how He interacted with the children that came into His life while on earth. You just may be the very person who is responsible for that child making a personal
decision and lifetime commitment to accept and to live for Christ because of your example in such a one’s heart and life.Then take the time to come to Jesus, yourself, in simple, childlike faith, as you pour out your heart to Him, as one of His kids! His heart longs for you and me to come to Him in that basic, unquestionable faith as we see in a precious little one. As His kids, He will never disappoint a sincere, seeking heart.
As I pray today:
Please note:
You are welcome to share this devotional in your local churches, home fellowship Bible studies, etc., but I suggest that you personalize it. You do not have permission to publicize it or to make money from it in any form. May God richly bless you as you minister for Him with rich spiritual rewards of seeing many souls saved and sanctified for all eternity! Please let me know whatever helpful results you may get from this!
With Warm Sincerity in Jesus’ Love,
Rev. Don Schink, Pastor-Evangelist
Sonlight Ministries
Tijeras, NM
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