• Children’s Day • Children’s Day • Children’s Day
It is the usual thing to think in terms of what adults can teach children. Adults have much to teach. They teach children ways to develop their bodies, personalities and their relationships with God. At the same time children can often teach adults.
Adults sometimes become so proud, skeptical or self-righteous that they need to recover some of the spirit of childhood. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
The Kingdom or the reign of God has been proclaimed. As Jesus put it, ‘‘the kingdom of God has come upon you.’’ (Luke 11:20b) The responsibility of those who would follow the Christ is to receive the reign of God. Citizenship in that Kingdom requires a childlike spirit. In other words, we adults are called sometimes to change our ways of thinking, to develop different standards, to rip off layers of pride, skepticism and hardness and to return to some of the spirit of childhood.
What are some qualities of children that adults would do well to emulate? Among those qualities are three pre-requisites to entering the Kingdom of God. These are qualities which children can teach adults.
Children can teach adults the importance of a spirit of dependence. Children know they do not get things alone, that they are dependent upon parents or guardians for the gifts of life. Adults do well to remember that we do not get things alone but are dependent upon the Supreme Power in the universe for not only the gifts of life but for life itself.
As a youth David killed Goliath in the faith that his strength was a gift to him from the Lord. Tradition has it that he later expressed this same faith when he wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)
As the Jewish people were living in captivity in Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel comforted them with the message that the Lord was their helper and that they were dependent upon him. When Nehemiah returned with some of the captives to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall of the city, he did so with the idea that the builders were commissioned by the Lord upon whom they were dependent for its completion.
When Zechariah became the father of John the Baptizer, who was to become the forerunner of the Messiah, he demonstrated a childlike faith, crying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.” (Luke 1:68)
All of these people possessed a childlike spirit of dependence.
Children can also teach adults the importance of receptivity. A child is usually open to new and larger ideas. Adults do well to keep their minds open to new truth.
During a period in the history of Israel when the prophetic vision was dim and the priesthood had fallen into disrepute, the Lord spoke to the boy Samuel. When the child heard the call of God he replied, “Speak, for thy servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:10b) Adults do well to say that to God, “Speak, for thy servant hears.”
When Josiah, King of Judah, learned the content of the Book of the Law, he set out to reform the idolatry of the land. He was receptive to ideas from a book. When Mary was told that she was to become the mother of Jesus she sang, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46b-47a) She was receptive to the voice of God.
When blind Bartimaeus sat by the roadside and Jesus passed that way, he called, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 10:48b) When Jesus asked him what he wanted he replied, “Master, let me receive my sight.” (Luke 10:51b) His blindness ended when the Christ said, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 10:52a) He was receptive to the influence of the Master.
Insofar as moderns answer the heavenly vision with the words of Cornelius, “What is it, Lord?” (Acts 10:4a) we shall, like that first Gentile Christian, find the reign of God in life.
Children can teach adults the importance of a spirit of enthusiasm. When a child is faced with a challenge, he or she usually tackles it enthusiastically. So adults do well, when we hear the voice of God, to act spontaneously.
The Master appreciated those who acted spontaneously. Among his closest friends were those who did so. Such was the nature of the one who baptized him. So, too, he appreciated Andrew, the first Christian evangelist. Something in Simon the Zealot must have caused the Master to choose this impetuous man as one of the Twelve. When a woman of the city wet his feet with tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them with her lips and anointed them with ointment, he showed his approval of her spontaneity when he said, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50b)
When Peter cried out in that moment of impulse, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jona!” (Matthew 16:16b,17a)
As the Christ loved those who responded to him spontaneously with childlike faith, so he loves those today who do not calculate the cost of being a Christian but take him gladly as the Lord of their lives. A much neglected Christian virtue is that of delight.
Jesus said, “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
Citizenship in that Kingdom requires a childlike spirit of dependence, receptivity and enthusiasm.
Prayer
Our God, whose children we are, we praise and worship You for Your love and care of us. We praise You that when we call to You for help, You do hear our prayers and that even when we are not aware of it, Your loving protection of us goes on.
We thank You for our children. For their laughter, their willingness to grow and learn, and their ability to forgive, we give You our thanks.
We confess, our God, that we have failed where children have succeeded. We have been reluctant to grow, whereas they have been eager for growth. We have harbored ill will toward others whereas our children have forgiven. Look with mercy upon us and forgive us all that is past.
For our children, we pray that they be given a deepening understanding of and fellowship in Your church. Help them to love those with whom they live as they love themselves. Grant Your guidance to children around the globe. Hasten the day when children may not suffer from want. Give to children in all lands the ability to correct the mistakes of their elders and to build a world in which all people may live together in peace and love.
We submit our lives to You. Give to us openness to Your will and help us, like children, to keep growing in our ability to walk in Christlikeness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen