AS A CHILD

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.”

Stacia Tauscher

 

“A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer.”

Author Unknown

 

“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

John W. Whitehead

 

“Children are one third of our population and all of our future.”

Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981

 

“Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.”

R. Tagore

 

Mark 10:13-16

“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.”

 

In this passage we see parents, grandparents and family members bringing small children to Jesus to have Him touch them. No mention is made that they needed healing from disease. Very likely what these loving guardians wished for their loved ones was just a touch from the Master’s hand to receive a blessing. These parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or guardians, whoever they may have been, were concerned for the souls of these precious little children.

 

Unfortunately the disciples did not have the mind of Christ and therefore their hearts did not lead them to show love. Instead they not only tried to turn the children and their guardians away, they actually went so far as to rebuke or scold them for bothering Jesus with their requests. This scripture passage tells us that Jesus was righteously angered at such unloving behavior. Other adjectives for His demeanor towards their actions might be indignation, annoyance, and offense. Needless to say, Jesus was greatly disturbed by their actions and intervened so that these innocent children could be permitted to receive love from Him. Let us be careful we never behave as the disciples did, whether it concerns children or adults. Never should we presume whom God would welcome into His arms within His church. We should continually be looking for ways to express the love of Jesus to those that God brings into our lives for ministry. We should seek to have the mind of Christ and this means our heart will follow truthfully and appropriately the way of Jesus to demonstrate love and concern towards others. Having the mind of Christ is intimately tied to how well we know scripture and how closely we listen for guidance from the Holy Spirit. The disciples were being taught by Jesus without access to the New Testament and they also had not yet received the gift of the Holy Spirit so they were at a disadvantage. We do not have such excuses as servants of Christ.

 

Jesus was displeased with His disciples probably for many reasons. First He was very likely disappointed that His disciples had not grasped His mindset of setting a priority of always being available to minister to people, especially children. Secondly He probably grieved that His disciples did not have His heart of love for the most innocent of individuals. If they could not receive small children, how would they minister to the elderly, those with disease and who need to be presented with the Gospel? Thirdly He was probably vexed that these precious children had almost been prevented from coming to Him, the Son of God, someone that could show tender love and concern for them.

 

Children come to adults with the most perplexing questions at times and often ones that are as deep in complexity as any university professor could devise. Such questions and concerns demand answers from someone who is qualified, wise and loving. Jesus was definitely qualified to address such thoughts. He was qualified because He had the love of His Heavenly Father and was willing to take action to demonstrate it. When anyone comes to us “as a child” for help or affection, Christians should be the first to offer a response of love and concern.

 

Another possible reason Jesus desired to receive these children into His loving arms was that they represented the next generation of followers of the Lamb of God. The children in our home, church and neighborhood are our future generation. Future generations of God’s Kingdom are precious in His sight; and they should also be precious in ours as well. They will carry the torch of Truth into the unknown future and they must be prepared not only to be strong, but especially loving towards others.

 

Children are greatly influenced by adults and look up to them as role models. They wish to emulate us. They follow our lead. They walk behind us and watch us. Often they wish to grow up to be just like who we have become. Such should be our mindset when it comes to our emulation of Christ. He is our example. We should come to our Heavenly Father as a child would to us and wish to grow up to be just like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Today we do not have Jesus physically present to receive children to bless them, speak to their souls and comfort them in their concerns. This task falls upon us. The critical question we must ask is do we have the insensitive attitude of the disciples or do we truly have the mind and heart of Christ. The mind and heart of Jesus Christ puts love at the center of all dealings we have with those who come into our life; young, middle-aged or elderly?

 

In order to have a loving heart like our Heavenly Father we must also make it a practice to come to Christ as a little child ourselves on a regular basis in order to be able to minister to children or anyone in need. Coming to Christ as a child means we remove the trappings of our mature, serious and busy adult world and look to Him for guidance as we humbly submit to Him. We should make it a practice to come to Him with the temperament of a teachable child who is mild mannered, humble, and free from prejudice and obstinacy. Children are trusting and usually very responsive to love shown to them. We should emulate their behavior. This will not only grow our relationship with the Lord, it will also enable us to minister more lovingly to children and those in need of all ages.

 

Often as adults we talk down to children, not only in our words but also in our body posture and our adult mindset. We need to meet children where they are and stoop down on our knees or lay on the floor to minister and receive the children that come to us for answers to their questions, comfort for their woes or a kind word that they may never have heard in their own home. Ministering in such a way to children will help us improve in our ministry to adults. Often, adults are just children in adult bodies. In some ways we never grow up. We have fears, concerns and questions just like little children. We find ourselves confused or wounded over what happens to us in this evil world and we desire love and understanding from someone who cares, just like a small child.

 

When we come to God for help, assistance or compassion, we could take a few lessons from children. When we seek assistance from Heavenly Father we should come to Him as a child would, with an attitude of submission, honesty, innocence and truthfulness.

 

Our attitude should be inquisitive and with a ravenous desire to learn from God and His Word. A small child is an empty vessel that begs to be filled with knowledge. They are hungry to have answers to all their difficult questions about life and so we should have a similar attitude when it comes to the things we face as adults. Children accept with eager readiness the answers given to them by those with more knowledge and wisdom. We also should absorb the Truth in God’s Word and the wisdom from strong Christian pastors, teachers and spiritual advisors. We also must never forget as followers of Christ the importance of our constant guide who lives within us, the Holy Spirit.

 

The hearts, minds and souls of children are similar to pure white sheets of paper that beg to have something written upon them. We as adults should be careful what we write on such delicate precious papers. In like manner, when we come to our Heavenly Father for advice or direction; may we present our lives to Him with a submissive attitude, allowing Him to write upon our hearts and souls whatever He wishes. Often we come to God with the paper of our lives covered with hurts and sin. God can and will erase such wounds and misjudgments and replace it with the steadfast wisdom of His Holy Word as well as the love and grace of His mercy and forgiveness. We should come to Christ as children come to their parents and guardians, totally dependent on provision for security and sustenance. If we come to Christ as a child, we daily depend on Him for all our physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

 

It is interesting that Jesus did more than was requested of Him. In this situation He not only touched the children, He took them into His arms. This example of love and concern should proclaim to us the necessity of doing more than the minimum to minister not only to children but also to adults. Often we minister and serve in minimal ways so that we can preserve our resources or limit our involvement. Christ went beyond what was asked to minister fully and completely. Children need to be shown love in words and deeds, but they also need to be held and hugged. Adults are often no different. Of course we must use wise judgment that such gestures of love are appropriate, but too often we refrain from reaching out to others because of a lack of the love of Christ.

 

When Jesus ministered to small children He took them into His arms and blessed them. This blessing was a bestowment of love, but also a blessing of a future hope that they would choose to be a child of God and follow in the footsteps of Christ to be used for service to His Heavenly Father. So we should bless children in a similar fashion. We should bless them and thank them for being who they are, but also give them encouragement that we will seek to care for them because we love them dearly as God loves them. We should help them understand that with such blessing comes responsibility to love others and that they should be willing to be used by God now and in the future. Children often show great compassion and love towards other children that we as adults should model as we love and serve others.

 

I would encourage you to minister to children you come in contact with as Jesus did, but also to come “as a child” to Christ as well, so that you may grow in Him and become more like Him. You will find blessings in your life by such actions and that such holy habits will overflow into your relationships with everyone you meet.

 

“Children seldom misquote.

In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.”

Author Unknown

 

“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.”

Franklin P. Jones

 

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child

will never enter it.’”

Matthew 10:15