Title: Christ is our hope!
Facebook live: Christ is our hope!
15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Robert Fulghum wrote in the Kansas City Times, "Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.
"These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody . . . When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together … Unless you become like little children, you won't enter the kingdom of heaven."
Hugh Duncan.
So what is childlike faith?
Well, Webster says of a child: It is an unborn or recently born person; a young person especially between infancy and youth; a childlike or childish person; a person not yet of age; a son or daughter of human parents; one strongly influenced by another or by a place, or state of affairs.
And about faith Webster says: It’s a strong belief or trust in someone or something; belief in the existence of God; strong religious feelings or beliefs; a system of religious beliefs; fidelity to one's promises; sincerity of intentions; belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion; firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust.
So, picture if you will a young child standing on the side of a pool; not yet of age to swim and having not been taught how, but being strongly influenced by dad’s call to jump and that he will catch them.
The child too has strong feelings and beliefs, that if dad misses or drops me, “I will hit the water and I’m going to sink as fast as the stones I’ve dropped in the pool at the deep end!”
But dad has promised to catch them and so they place their trust his intentions … complete trust and loyalty in dad … though there is no proof.
As the child jumps, dad catches … confirming their faith in the object of their safety - the one who will not let them fall.
It is true as well with our heavenly father. St. Paul writes in his epistle in 2 Tim 4:18:
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. 2 Timothy 4:18
It is his promise.
So, where do we place our trust?
What is the object of faith for the Christian?
Is it in our self? Is it in our parents?
Is it in the church or religion as a whole?
Is it society and political power?
Is it strong or weak like a child?
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.
Children, or infants or babies can’t come to Jesus so “they” probable refers to their parents or responsible adults who were bringing them to Jesus.
Much like you and me who continue to bring the little boys and girls, who are brought as infants to the waters of Holy Baptism … where God himself marks them as his child. God’s work that requires are action!
It’s why, I’m sure, that Martin Luther wrote this in his Small Catechism:
As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.
God’s work and our action!
The responsibility is given to parents and more specifically to fathers to teach their children about Jesus, as they are called to be the ones that are the spiritual heads of their households.
So, how do we teach?
Certainly, the Catechism is one important way. Sunday school and Bible study is another, and ongoing Catechesis, which is the instruction in the faith through the word of God. But singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is another way as well.
One song that more clearly shows the childlike faith that Jesus is talking about was written in the mid 1700’s by Henrietta L. von Hays.
I am Jesus’ little lamb, Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my needs and well provides me,
Loves me every day the same,
Even calls me by my name.
Childlike faith clings to the savior as a child to his mother and father; Knowing that every need is provided for them by God daily, and that he lovingly calls each one of us by name.
Day by day, at home, away, Jesus is my staff and stay.
When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,
Into pleasant pastures leads me;
When I thirst, he bids me go
where the quiet waters flow.
Every day our childlike faith is placed in him. Whether hunger or thirst, we can find the pleasant pastures of rest in him as we daily remember the quiet waters of our own baptism of forgiveness, where our sins have been washed away.
Who so happy as I am, Even now the shepherd’s lamb?
And when my short life is ended,
By his angel host attended,
He shall fold me to his breast,
There within his arms to rest.
Our joy with childlike faith is in the good shepherd Jesus who will, even as our life comes to a close and we look to him through the eyes of old age, comfort us all in his loving arms where we will rest with him in eternity.
Now, that responsibility is on mom and dad. It is great for grandparents to help and care for their grandchildren but mom and dad have the mandate and responsibility. So do all you can to connect your children to the faith and if you are grandparents, you still have your children who you can help and motivate to be in worship with their children. Do all you can and do not prohibit them!
Remember: It is God’s work and our action, so do not withhold your children from the Lord!
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
To hinder a child from the Lord makes our Lord indignant.
Indignant means:
A feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base:
So, displeasing our Lord is a strong offence, especially as it refers to our children.
It is by God’s Grace, Mercy, and Spirit that we too can receive his Kingdom with that blessed childlike faith he gives. May we, by that same Spirit, pray to always remain in the one true faith as a child who is Jesus’ little lamb.
Let us as a reminder for ourselves as we close today sing together, I am Jesus little lamb hymn # 740 in the Lutheran Service book.
In the name of the Father and of the Son+ and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Mark 10:2-16
Facebook live: Christ is our hope!
15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Robert Fulghum wrote in the Kansas City Times, "Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.
"These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody . . . When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together … Unless you become like little children, you won't enter the kingdom of heaven."
Hugh Duncan.
So what is childlike faith?
Well, Webster says of a child: It is an unborn or recently born person; a young person especially between infancy and youth; a childlike or childish person; a person not yet of age; a son or daughter of human parents; one strongly influenced by another or by a place, or state of affairs.
And about faith Webster says: It’s a strong belief or trust in someone or something; belief in the existence of God; strong religious feelings or beliefs; a system of religious beliefs; fidelity to one's promises; sincerity of intentions; belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion; firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust.
So, picture if you will a young child standing on the side of a pool; not yet of age to swim and having not been taught how, but being strongly influenced by dad’s call to jump and that he will catch them.
The child too has strong feelings and beliefs, that if dad misses or drops me, “I will hit the water and I’m going to sink as fast as the stones I’ve dropped in the pool at the deep end!”
But dad has promised to catch them and so they place their trust his intentions … complete trust and loyalty in dad … though there is no proof.
As the child jumps, dad catches … confirming their faith in the object of their safety - the one who will not let them fall.
It is true as well with our heavenly father. St. Paul writes in his epistle in 2 Tim 4:18:
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. 2 Timothy 4:18
It is his promise.
So, where do we place our trust?
What is the object of faith for the Christian?
Is it in our self? Is it in our parents?
Is it in the church or religion as a whole?
Is it society and political power?
Is it strong or weak like a child?
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.
Children, or infants or babies can’t come to Jesus so “they” probable refers to their parents or responsible adults who were bringing them to Jesus.
Much like you and me who continue to bring the little boys and girls, who are brought as infants to the waters of Holy Baptism … where God himself marks them as his child. God’s work that requires are action!
It’s why, I’m sure, that Martin Luther wrote this in his Small Catechism:
As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.
God’s work and our action!
The responsibility is given to parents and more specifically to fathers to teach their children about Jesus, as they are called to be the ones that are the spiritual heads of their households.
So, how do we teach?
Certainly, the Catechism is one important way. Sunday school and Bible study is another, and ongoing Catechesis, which is the instruction in the faith through the word of God. But singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is another way as well.
One song that more clearly shows the childlike faith that Jesus is talking about was written in the mid 1700’s by Henrietta L. von Hays.
I am Jesus’ little lamb, Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my needs and well provides me,
Loves me every day the same,
Even calls me by my name.
Childlike faith clings to the savior as a child to his mother and father; Knowing that every need is provided for them by God daily, and that he lovingly calls each one of us by name.
Day by day, at home, away, Jesus is my staff and stay.
When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,
Into pleasant pastures leads me;
When I thirst, he bids me go
where the quiet waters flow.
Every day our childlike faith is placed in him. Whether hunger or thirst, we can find the pleasant pastures of rest in him as we daily remember the quiet waters of our own baptism of forgiveness, where our sins have been washed away.
Who so happy as I am, Even now the shepherd’s lamb?
And when my short life is ended,
By his angel host attended,
He shall fold me to his breast,
There within his arms to rest.
Our joy with childlike faith is in the good shepherd Jesus who will, even as our life comes to a close and we look to him through the eyes of old age, comfort us all in his loving arms where we will rest with him in eternity.
Now, that responsibility is on mom and dad. It is great for grandparents to help and care for their grandchildren but mom and dad have the mandate and responsibility. So do all you can to connect your children to the faith and if you are grandparents, you still have your children who you can help and motivate to be in worship with their children. Do all you can and do not prohibit them!
Remember: It is God’s work and our action, so do not withhold your children from the Lord!
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
To hinder a child from the Lord makes our Lord indignant.
Indignant means:
A feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base:
So, displeasing our Lord is a strong offence, especially as it refers to our children.
It is by God’s Grace, Mercy, and Spirit that we too can receive his Kingdom with that blessed childlike faith he gives. May we, by that same Spirit, pray to always remain in the one true faith as a child who is Jesus’ little lamb.
Let us as a reminder for ourselves as we close today sing together, I am Jesus little lamb hymn # 740 in the Lutheran Service book.
In the name of the Father and of the Son+ and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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