Receive Little Children

By

Shelby G. Floyd

Once an argument started among the disciples as to who would be the greatest. Jesus who knew the hearts of men, took a little child and had him placed beside him. Thus a child of no honor is raised to a place of honor by Christ. Then Jesus made this application to his disciples and to us: “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great” (Luke 9:48).

A child usually does not seek prominence. A child is humble, dependent, and trusting. Christ wants all of us to have the character of a little child: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7).

Some adults do not care much about receiving little children. They do not want to be bothered with them because often they are, (1) unkempt, (2) misbehaving, and (3) displeasing. We are to receive little children, and adults who sometimes act worse than little children “in the name of Christ.” To receive them “in the name of Christ” means we seek to teach and train them so they will grow and mature and then enter into salvation and the church: “…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12). This means we are to serve Christ and meet the needs of the little children—their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Even the parents of Jesus met his needs when he was a young child: “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke. 2:51-52).

We commend all of our men and women who so faithfully arrive on time and are ready to receive and teach the little children and young people in our Sunday morning Bible classes “in the name of Christ.” “He that is faithful in little will be faithful in much!” Copyright © 2011 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved