Straight to the heart

This morning, we had baby dedications in our church. In my opinion, there is NOTHING like seeing babies being dedicated to the Lord. It does for my motherhood what going to a wedding does for my marriage. Gives me new fresh sparks, reminds me what a joy and pleasure children are. Always brings tears to my eyes. Always.





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." Mark 10:14




It always causes me to picture these little sweet, fresh babes as the future leaders. Future lovers of Jesus. Open, teachable, ready to believe, love, and trust. Gives me goooosebumps! Why is it that I can't always see my own children in that light?



Ava is going through an illness. An illness that strikes all 3 year olds, I know Corene went through it, but I had blessed amnesia about it until a few weeks ago when I started seeing symptoms in Ava. It's called "little liar" syndrome. The symptoms sound something like this:




Ava: (calling me during quiet time when she's not supposed to be talking) Mommy? Mommy!



Me: (walking in the room) What is it, Ava?



Ava: I didn't call you. It was Corene.



Me: (speechless)
Corene: (silent)

Ava: I'm bored.


Me: Ava, you're not supposed to be talking.


Ava: I'm not talking! It's Corene!


Me: Who said "I'm bored"? (I watched her mouth move, mind you)


Ava: Corene. Corene did, Mommy.






Aye. de. mi. I will spare you the details of the events that followed.



So, at this point, I'm not visualizing my daughter as a future leader. I'm visualizing her as a future drug dealer.



One of our pastors gave an amazing "mini sermon" on this passage in Mark as part of the baby dedication. May I summarize and ponder a bit on it?



Read that verse again. Imagine in your mind what Jesus sounded like when he said it. Imagine his tone of voice and his countenance:


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." Mark 10:14



Warm? Fuzzy? Sweet? That's what I think of.


Now, let's look at it in the context of the verses around it:




13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When 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. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.



Notice that little word indignant? Synonyms are angry, resentful, infuriated, mad. Not warm. Not fuzzy. Not sweet. Y'all, the Son of God was ticked off. He was indignant at the disciples for "putting off" the children. They were only trying to help. They were trying to make things go smoothly for Jesus.





In my human understanding, I can understand how Jesus would need to remind the disciples that the children are important, and encourage the disciples to let the children come to Him. But why was he angry? There must be something more to it than meets the human eye. Jesus isn't known for being angry often in his life, and the few times we read of him being angry, it's for very good reason. Merchants in the temple, defiling a Holy place. Pharisees that are trying to trick Him into saying something worthy of rebuke. Satan himself trying to tempt Him. Disciples trying to keep the peace in the crowds around Jesus?



Could it be that the way God sees children is completely and utterly different than the way we see them? God sees them as the model for how we must be as people in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven(vs15). They are the future leaders, but more importantly, also the present models of simple faith, open, teachable, ready to believe, love, and trust.




Ding ding ding. Light bulb moment. This morning in my service, the Lord lavished upon me but a glimpse, a glimmer, of how He sees His children. I WANT to understand this! I want to see it more. OK, truth be told, I really don't. It's foreign. It's mysterious. It's Divine. My glimpse has given me a hunger for knowing Him more. And, all the more, I want to train up my children in the way they should go, I want to utilize these times of softenss and teachability. I want to learn from them as I teach them and watch them grow. It's inspiring, and it's a wake-up call.




Let them come, do not hinder them! These are the children!