30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 1-2 Children and the kingdom of God 11 Children demonstrate for us the principles of the kingdom of God
📖 Luke 17:1-2
19Jun2020 - *Children demonstrate for us the principles of the kingdom of God* - _Luke 17:1-2_ - Bible reading: _Galatians 4:13-15_
_Luke 17:1-2 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! (2) It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones._
We have been considering *children and the kingdom of God*. Children give us the values of God’s kingdom and so children are precious. The first value of the kingdom of God that we learn by focussing our attention on children is that we will *internalise a culture of willing to be unnoticed, ignored and overlooked but be focussed on genuinely caring for the vulnerable*.
The second value is the *value of Trust*. The third is to have a *hunger for God’s word*. The fourth is the *value of Growth*. The fifth is that we *should not remain immature but be free from malice* and the sixth value that we learn from children that will make us be a part of His kingdom is *Humility*.
We have seen such precious qualities from children. What does this tell us? Children are for us the representatives of His kingdom. We, therefore, receive them or give them significance and importance for they are our guides to the kingdom of heaven.
If we lose our children, we lose the guides, who show us the kingdom life. We will have no models. God has given children to us for the good of society. We must take care of them, for them to grow into their fullness and also for our own good.
_Matthew 18:5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. Mark 9:36-37 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, (37) “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." Luke 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great." John 13:20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."_
Children are part of the chain that links us to Jesus, to the Father and to the kingdom of God. We cannot afford to break the chain by not giving importance and significance to children.
Here is a practical example of receiving a person. We see that Apostle Paul ministered in Galatia and the Galatian believers were deeply concerned for Paul’s wellbeing. They knew that Paul had a physical ailment. It was probably related to his eyesight. The Galatians were so concerned for Paul that they were willing to give their own eyes to Paul, in order to ease the pain that Paul was experiencing.
_Galatians 4:13-15 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. (14) And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. (15) What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me._
This then is the care and concern that we must pour on children. We must build, invest, nurture, raise up, strengthen, correct, mould and shape a child towards his/her full development, into the image of Jesus.
The whole community, society and nation ought to be geared to take care of children. Children ought to be at the centre, in framing social systems and structures. With children at the centre of all social planning, we will never go wrong. Society will be set up on the right framework. On the other hand, if a community, society or nation does not care for its children, children will be easily lost and the whole fabric of that society will fall apart.
*Thought to ponder*
```The one area that the devil will attack vehemently is to ruin the lives of children for if children are lost, which is easy for him to do, he can cut us off from building the building blocks of God’s kingdom.```