Do you like little children? Do you love holding babies? How do you treat those little ones? Do you point them to Jesus or turn them away from Him? Are you sure you know? Have you considered it is not merely by words but by actions that we influence children?
Most of us love babies. We enjoy holding them and cooing to them. We enjoy watching them learning to walk, until they start getting into things they shouldn’t. As children grow older, they slowly lose the adorableness we first saw in them, even if the parents are late noticing.
Yet, our influence on our children is long lasting and can continue for their entire lives. If we are educating them about Jesus, we are doing well. Teaching them about Jesus does not mean we drop them off at church or rely solely on a Sunday School teacher. Children are far smarter and observant than we give them credit for. What does this mean for us?
As we raise our children, we must be cognizant of our behavior and actions as well. We must not take the attitude of “do as I say, not as I do.” If we truly want our children to be followers of Jesus, to live lives in accordance with God’s plan, we must model that for them. We must submit our lives to God and demonstrate what that looks like to our children.
Jesus also tells us we must accept Him as a child does. That means we must be fully dependent on Him. We must submit ourselves to Him. We must turn to Him for our needs, guidance, and our well-being. When we turn to Jesus as a small child does its parent, we inherit the kingdom of God.
I pray we all enjoy our children and grandchildren. I pray we teach them about Jesus. I pray each one of us model submitting to Jesus and following Him to our children and grandchildren. Teach children about Jesus. Accept Jesus like a child. Be a positive role model for children.
Mark 10:14-15 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”
Marty Pressey 