13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”15 And he laid his hands on them and went away. – Matthew 19:13-15
Students are interesting. Capable of so much, sometimes they remind you of their age. I know anyone who truly loves the work they do through younger relationships will tell you that their kids are the best and that they are the ones who will affect change on the world. Truth is though, everyone who works with kids in any capacity, whether it be a teacher or a parent, will find frustration and burnout at times. Discipleship is hard in any form. However, we have a duty to those who are younger to walk beside with patience and a foolish optimism. The common excuse of many is that they are simply not called to work with that age and I get it. Many however hide behind this. Even those who are “called” find it awkward and yielding little reward at times.
We see many passages in the Bible describing Jesus’ love for the outcast – those on the bottom of society. Children, mostly at the time Christ walked the earth, were seen as such people. He valued children in a way that is unmatched. For this reason alone, we should examine our attitude on children and teens. Any time Christ talks in Scripture, there is an incredible amount of significance to each word, and as His followers, we must be prepared to take them seriously. Yes, we should be more like children in our faith like many will translate passages like these, but we must not disregard the simplicity of it all – kids matter to God.
Lord, thank you for valuing the least of us, and choosing those who society disregards to bring about your best into this space. Teach us to love the unlovable and impart grace on all who you wish.
Matt simon blog 