Mark 10:13-16 page 1

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In the TV show Desperate Housewives one of the characters, Mary-Alice, says this at the beginning of one episode:

'Most mothers will tell you their children are a gift from God. But most mothers will tell you there are some days you would like to return them.'

There is a way in which our culture speaks of children as innocent. But they aren't! As one teacher remarked, "Anybody who doubts the doctrine of original sin has clearly never taught a class of five-year-olds."

But nevertheless, today is a day to be thankful for children, and for one in particular. And I thought the words of Jesus we've just heard would be suitable for a day like today:

‘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.’
[verses 14-15]

When Jesus walked the earth, children were thought of very differently from today. They were treated as highly unimportant, and on the margins of society. It was the Victorian 'children should be seen and not heard' attitude with a vengeance.

So when Jesus takes little children in his arms, lays his hands on them and blesses them, he is saying that people whom the world thinks are unimportant can be a great example of true faith. Today I want to take three characteristics of children that are important for adults to emulate in the spiritual journey.

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Copyright © David D Faulkner, 2006 except where other sources are attributed or noted as inspiration.