Jesus and the Children
There's a buzz and excitement around our church because Vacation Bible School (VBS) starts tomorrow. Many of us have fond memories of attending or helping with VBS in the past. This year's theme is "YEEHAW VBS." It's exciting to think about how children from 3 y/o to 5th grade will be stampeding around the church, playing games, singing songs, having snacks, and learning about Jesus, God's greatest gift to us all!
Most of us know that Vacation Bible School is much more than a summer activity. It's an important ministry that can impact young lives for eternity. The purpose of VBS is to share about Jesus and the Bible with children, churched and unchurched, leading them on a pathway to eternal life. While we often think of faith and religion as being mature topics, Jesus and children go together. Matthew 19:13-14 reads: "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'”
From the passage, one might ask why would parents bring their children to Jesus? To me, that's a slam dunk! Knowing our children, knowing life's challenges, and knowing how the world is, my question is "Why wouldn't you bring your children to Jesus to have Him pray for them?" Right? So then why would the disciples discourage this? Apparently, they felt Jesus' time (or their time) was too valuable to be spent praying for these little ones. Not so! Jesus straight out rebuked the disciples telling them "let the little children come and do not hinder them." Then He says, "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
The kingdom of heaven is not limited to mature, capable adults who were considered to be worth more than children back in those days. In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 18 that to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must become like 'little children' that have faith and humbly trust and depend on God as children do their parents. So let the little children come! May we all grow in childlike faith. May the Lord bless YEEHAW VBS and may all the children stampede to Jesus.
God bless,
Pastor Darren