Daily Devotion

 

IT WAS THE CUSTOM FOR MOTHERS TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO SOME DISTINGUISHED RABBI ON THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY THAT HE MIGHT BLESS THEM. THAT IS WHAT THE MOTHERS WANTED FROM JESUS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE ARE NOT TO THINK THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE HARD AND CRUEL. IT WAS KINDNESS THAT MADE THEM ACT AS THE DID. REMEMBER WHERE JESUS WAS GOING. HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO JERUSALEM TO DIE UPON A CROSS. THE DISCIPLES COULD SEE UPON HIS FACE THE INNER TENSION OF HIS HEART, AND THEY DID NOT WANT JESUS TO BE BOTHERED. OFTEN AT HOME WE MAY SAY TO A LITTLE CHILD, "DON'T BOTHER YOUR DADDY; HE'S TIRED TONIGHT." THAT IS PROBABLY HOW THE DISCIPLES FELT ABOUT JESUS.

 

 

WHEN JESUS SAID THAT IT WAS OF THE CHILDLIKE THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD WAS COMPOSED, WHAT DID HE MEAN? 

(1) THE CHILD HAD NOT LOST THE SENSE OF WONDER. AS WE GROW OLDER WE BEGIN TO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT HAS GROWN GREY AND TIRED. THE CHILD LIVES IN A WORLD WITH A SHINE ON IT AND IN WHICH GOD IS ALWAYS NEAR.

(2) THE CHILD'S WHOLE LIFE IS FOUNDED ON TRUST. WHEN WE ARE YOUNG, WE NEVER DOUBT WHERE THE NEXT MEAL IS TO COME FROM. WE GO TO SCHOOL, CERTAIN THAT HOME WILL BE THERE WHEN WE RETURN. THE CHILD'S TRUST IN HIS PARENTS IS ABSOLUTE, AS OURS SHOULD BE IN OUR FATHER GOD.

(3) THE CHILD IS NATURALLY OBEDIENT.TRUE, HE OFTEN DISOBEYS AND GRUMBLES AT HIS PARENTS' BIDDING. IN HIS HEART OF HEARTS HIS PARENTS' WORD IS LAW. SO, SHOULD IT BE WITH US AND GOD.

(4) THE CHILD HAS AB AMAZING FACULTY OF FORGIVENESS. ALMOST ALL PARENTS ARE UNJUST TO THEIR CHILDREN. WE DEMAND FROM THEM A STANDARD OF OBEDIENCE, OF GOOD MANNERS, OF PROPER LANGUAGE. WHEN HE IS VERY YOUNG, THE CHILD FORGIVES AND FORGETS AND DOESN'T EVEN REALIZE IT.

Life Application: Do you live the standard according to that last paragraph? Don't ask yourself - ask someone else.

Praise/Prayer: Dear Father, please help me to live up to Your standard of holy living. I want my life to please You every day because I want to go to heaven and be with You. That is my dream. Amen!