Let the Little Children Come: Children at Heart

“But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ~Matthew 19:14

Let the Little Children Come

Anyone who has been around kids long enough will know they can give joy with their positive outlook and fun-loving attitude, but they can also be quite frustrating…to say the least. Unfortunately, as we age, we can become jaded losing our childhood bliss. Our simplicity is replaced by complexity and our ability to see the joy of the Kingdom in our midst (Luke 17:21) is diminished by responsibilities and work…or so we tell ourselves. Jesus’s disciples, whom we think of as loving and caring by their works and from their epistles, apparently weren’t big fans of kids during Jesus’s ministry; especially if it meant the kids took up Jesus’s time. He had more important ‘work’ to do after all. Ironically, the disciples were the ones hindering the Master’s work.

Jesus rebukes His disciples for hindering the children from coming to Him. In these two sentences in 19:14, Jesus teaches us critical lessons we must diligently live out.

As do all created things, children have a purpose. They’re not little nuisances we tolerate until they grow up; they’re precious beings with the potential to bring joy and a refreshment of purity into our lives. Not only that but Jesus’ words convict us that “unless [we] change and become like little children, [we] will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Secondly, they are not just future contributors to society; they are members of the Heavenly Kingdom; in fact, Jesus is saying to his disciples that children hold a special place in the heart of the Divine narrative. Their innocence and faith are qualities we should have if we want to see God (Matt. 5:8).

As we reflect on how Jesus sees children, let us remember their inherency in the Kingdom of God. As fellow members of the Kingdom, we must see children the way Jesus does! In cherishing them, we can treasure that to be “a child at heart” is not merely a sappy saying but a must in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Always improve the present moment.