An Act of Love

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

Matthew 19:13

As we continue our consideration of the text upon which we began to meditate a few days ago, we arrive at the thought that not only did these folk bring their little children to Christ in faith and in hope, but also they brought them to Jesus in love. The love expressed in this text extends in more than one direction. This was an act of love on the part of the parents toward their children, but also toward Christ. It was an expression of their attraction to Him and of their utter confidence in His Loving response. It is also apparent by the reaction of Christ that He loved both the parents and the children, for when His disciples sought to drive the people and children away He responded, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’  How can we comprehend this Love which Christ has for us and for our children. Moreover, how can we respond appropriately? Certainly, no matter what else we do, we can make much of Him. He is Worthy of that at the bare minimum. He has loved us first, and we can love Him in return. We can show the Love which He has had for us to others that they, in some small way may see Christ in us, and so come to love Him as well. In our own generation, and in every generation that follows, where Christ gives us influence by our legacy, let us make much of Him.

Our Gracious Master and our Loving God,
we rejoice that You receive us, though we be small and weak. 
We praise You, that like little children,
we may come to You freely resting in the Great Love which You have for us.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

An Act of Hope

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

Matthew 19:13

As we continue to contemplate our text as it relates to those who brought their little children to Christ, let us consider that not only was it an act of faith, but also their bringing their little ones to Christ was an act of hope. What did they desire? They desired that Christ would lay His Hands of Blessing upon these children and that He would intercede for them before God, His Father. Do we not as parents do the same thing with our children? We bring our precious little ones to Christ, in faith, but also in hope that He will lay His Hands of Blessing upon their lives and intercede for them at His Father’s Throne. We want good things for our children. We want them to be well physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially. In what, and in whom can we hope that all will be well with them? We can feed them, house them, clothe them, teach them, dry their tears, comfort them in their sickness, point them to Christ by life and lip, but at the end of the day, our hope for our children’s ultimate good is in Christ. So, we bring them to Him consistently, from before their conception, through the days of their development, to the hour we depart from them to be with Christ. For all our progeny who will follow us by ordinary generation, we have hope in Christ, the Only One Who can do them the greatest good.

Our Good and Merciful God,
we praise You that You are our Hope from generation to generation.
We rejoice that You will do good to all of Your people,
and all of our children, for all of our days, and for all eternity.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

An Act Of Faith

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.

Matthew 19:13

Christ loves children. During His earthly ministry, as He went in and out among the people, mothers and fathers would bring their little children to Him with the express desire that ‘He might put His hands on them and pray.’ As we, with our eyes of imagination, gaze upon this scene, what can we draw from it? Before we come to any other conclusion, we must arrive at the one that this was, on the part of the ones who brought these little ones, an act of faith. Simply put, they believed that Christ would do these children good in a spiritual way. It is the same for us who even yet, bring our little ones to Christ. We who are parents remember the first time we ever held these little lives in our hands. We remember how helpless we felt to practically effect all the good we desired for those precious bundles of life. We held them up to Christ in prayer and in faith that He would hear those prayers. Even though all these many years later those children have grown, married, and have children of their own, we still hold them up to Christ in faith. We still bring them to Him in prayer on a daily basis, believing, in faith, that He can do them good. We follow in the grand tradition of those parents of ancient days. We still bring our children before Christ in faith that He will do them good.

O, God of Grace and Truth,
we rejoice in Your Holy Hospitality.
We praise You that we can bring unto You our little ones,
with fullness of faith knowing that You will do them good.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning