Children are to God what a bone is to a dog. Kind of a weird comparison I know, but think about what a dog feels about its new found bone. Whenever we give a fake bone to our dog Casey, (she doesn't know the difference between a fake one and a real one), she takes it in her mouth and with head drawn into her chest she skirts off to another room. We go into the other room and say to her, "What have you got Casey?" She gives a huff and maybe a little growl, guards her bone in her mouth and scurries off to another room. We could do that all day with her and she would continue to do the same thing over and over again. She loves her fake bones.
God loves children too - no doubt about it. His only begotten Son was himself born into the world as a tiny child who grew up to become a man. We don't think too much about Jesus' childhood, but he lived as many years developing through childhood as you and I. He gave up His ability to be omniscient and omnipresent to become like one of us in every way - even as a child. Through Jesus, we know that even little children can experience the full measure of God's wonderful grace and the power and influence of the Holy Spirit upon their lives.
As a dog tresures its bone and will protect it to the bitter end, so God treasures little children in the same way. Both Matthew 18:2-8 and 19:13-14 express God's concern for little children. They are given to parents by God with special privileges attached. That's right, I said privileges! Children come from God, and it is a privilege for every parent to have them and love them in a way that is honoring to the One who created them. A parent's first responsibility is to love them in the Lord.
Matthew 18:6-9 issues a grave warning from Jesus to all parents who are blessed with children. "Cause one of these little ones to stumble is almost unforgiveable in God's eyes" (my paraphrase: at least that's how I read it). We may wonder why God allows some children to suffer such great abuse at the hands of unresponsible parents and other adults. Sometimes I cry out to God because of such great injustice toward children. But God has commissioned His church to be His mouthpiece under such circumstances. Therefore, before we blame God, remember that when you gave your heart to Jesus your commitment to Him was to stand in the gap to intercede for little children as well.
The other point that comes from these portions of scriptures is that God wants us to remain as little children. What does this mean? It means to remain in a faith that is much like a child's faith to their parents. They completely trust their parents to love and care for them in every way. We should have the same trusting faith - a childlike faith - in God.
This Sunday's message is "Christmas and Children." I believe that Christmas is for children first. The story of salvation begins with a child; a story that every child can relate to from a very early age. May God bless your Advent I celebration.
Blessings,
-Leo
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