Little Children And Old Folks

Little Children and Old Folks

 

Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world,

Red & yellow, black & white,

They are precious in His sight,

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

 

    “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" ² Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me”  Matt 18:1-5 (NKJV)

    "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. ¹¹ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.^”  Matt 18:10-11 (NKJV)

    “In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father.” The doctrine of guardian angels is emphatically taught in the Scriptures. See 2 Kings 19:31; Ps 91:11; Heb 1:13; Acts 27:23. Who can afford to despise the children who have representatives right at the throne of God?” — (Johnson’s Notes)

    “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. ⁴ And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.” Rev 8:3-4 (NKJV)

    Children are a great gift for humanity and for the Church. Recalling in our minds the many happy children brimming with life and enthusiasm, and on the other hand the countless children throughout our world who are living in poverty and need.

    “A society can be judged by the way it treats its children.”

Children remind us that from our earliest years we are dependent on others.  We see this in Jesus Himself, who was born a child in Bethlehem.  This is a precious reminder of the fact the necessary condition to enter the kingdom of God is to never consider ourselves self-sufficient, but in need of help, love and forgiveness.

Children also remind us that we are always sons and daughters. We have been given the gift of life, that we never cease to be radically dependent on others, but especially on God.

    And children challenge us to see things with a simple, pure and trusting heart.  They have the capacity to receive and to offer warmth and “tenderness,” to laugh and cry freely in response to the world around us.  A child’s spontaneous trust in his mother and father, in God, Jesus. Jesus urges us to become like children, since God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these (Mt 18:3). 

    Welcome and treasure our children, who bring so much life, joy and hope to the world.  How sad and bleak would our world be without them! 

    Old People are valuable.   “Hoary head” (Gray hair).  We will all be old people if we live long enough.  We reach a “second childhood” where we become helpless and dependent.  “A society can be judged by the way it treats its old people.”  [abortion & euthanasia are opposite sides of the same coin.]

    “The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.”  Proverbs 20:29 (NKJV)

    “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.”  Proverbs 16:31 (NKJV)

    Godly people grow in wisdom as they grow older, so their gray hair is a crown.  Only those who have been blessed with a long life live to become grandparents, and the continuation of the family line is a sign of God's blessing.

    When Abraham was about seventy-five years old, God spoke to him saying, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you" (Gen 12:1). We have heard the story so many times we may fail to consider what was at stake for Abraham in this call. God was calling him to leave all that he had to go to a place that he had never seen. That meant leaving the land of his father, all he possessed and worked for his entire life. Instead of living out his remaining days in security and comfort, with his reputation intact, he became a nomad of faith. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out...not knowing where he was to go" (Heb 11:8). Abraham staked his entire enterprise, his whole destiny on the promise he received from God. He held nothing back, despite the fact that he did not know where he was going. All he had to rely on was God’s word spoken to him.