Merely God’s children, by his grace and love.

 See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10.

 

While children are persecuted in many parts of the world, and also abused, raped and murdered in South Africa, often even within their own families, we need to remember how important every child is to God, who wants to help, protect and guide them through the love and faith of his people.

We need to pray for every child that suffers and we have to make a practical difference in their lives, even if it is only in the life of a single one of them at a time!

 

But for today, let's learn about our own faith and trust from the children around us. Celebrate their spontaneity, love and simple trust. Let's do what we can to protect them from teaching that mislead them and let's give them more of our love than of entertainment and materialism-driven values. Let's be comforted that when our children struggle, God wants to be with them through our care and dedication!

 

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me”, Jesus said. “It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

 

An important part of whom we are and what we do as the church is to receive people in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

Children do not come to church to do a task or run projects.  They come to church because they are part of God’s family, because God loves them and his grace welcomes them with open arms. They come because they love to be with the Lord and learn more about him.

 

They remind us of our own status in the Lord’s household. Yes, it is important for us to be accountable for God’s work and to contribute to the work of his Kingdom. But first of all we are members of his household, not because of all the good things we can do, but because of all the good things God has already done for us and wants to do for us.

 

Instead, we are members of his household as God’s children. We are here as grateful, trusting, believing and faithful children of our heavenly Father. We are here because the grace of God calls us and gathers us here.

 

The children remind us of who we all are. We are adopted by God our Father in Jesus Christ to be his children, forever. We live by the grace and care of God alone, and not by our common sense, strength and assumed goodness.

We learn again who we are, merely the children of God, and be reminded of, and strengthened in, the love and grace of God.