Jesus puts a child on his lap in Matthew 18 and tells all the adults around him, who were arguing about who was the greatest, that they must become as humble as one of these children. When Jesus tells his disciples to “make disciples” his instructions to them when they address adults include “compel them to come” (See Luke 14:23). But when he speaks to them about the children he says, “let them come” (See Matthew 19:14). What a difference! Children understand their need for help much more than adults do. They are glad to hear about Jesus and readily welcome him into their lives. Adults seem to be full of questions and arguments and discussions. Children gladly come to Jesus when they hear about him. Adults don’t.
In her book, “Children in the Bible, “ Dr. Lois E. LeBar listed some interesting reasons why Children’s ministries are crucial at any church. She says that they present the most favorable soil for planting God’s Word. Faith is natural to a child, for complete physical dependence is accompanied by absolute emotional confidence. Habits of the first seven years are indelibly established. Less time and effort are necessary to win many children to Christ than one adult. Children have their whole lives ahead of them for service. Suppose that Paul had been converted at seventy instead of twenty-five. There would have been no Paul in history. There was a Matthew Henry because he was converted at eleven and not at seventy; an Isaac Watts because he was converted at nine and not at sixty; a Jonathan Edwards because he was converted at eight and not eighty; a Richard Baxter because he was converted at six and not sixty. Children open many homes for personal work. Visiting children’s homes furnishes a natural approach for conversation about spiritual things. A teacher’s own life is matured as he sees himself as God’s child learning His higher ways. The disciples of old were amazed to discover not only that Christ gave children preference over adults, but also that adults had something to learn from children. One children’s worker said, “Outside the Word itself, no other single factor has helped me grow spiritually as has work with children.”
Well, you know what Jesus says in Matthew 18:3, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Chuck
“A voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. (Matthew 17:5)