Sometimes the disciples were ridiculous. No doubt some of the children who were brought to Jesus needed to be healed--the whole point was for Jesus to lay hands on them, something parents of sick kids would be desperate to do. So not only were the disciples saying no to kids coming forward, but they were likely saying no to sick kids as well.

Not exactly a Make-A-Wish moment.

And Jesus was indignant, which revealed His heart toward them. To keep Jesus from precious little people, to hinder access to Him in anyway, provoked His righteous anger. Because not only were the children vulnerable and in need--they were the exact representation of those He came to save.

"The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mark 10:14 NIV)

Children are simple. They're appropriately awestruck by the world around them. They're wide-eyed and expectant and moldable and trusting. By nature they aren't jaded or judgmental--those qualities come with age, along with self-focus, self-reliance, self-protection, self-promotion, and self-praise. On the contrary, children (most of them, anyway) are willing to defer and to receive, to climb into the Savior's lap and be cared for, to be led and loved on.

The children approached Jesus in a way we're supposed to emulate.

" 'Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them" (Mark 10:15-16)

Jesus rebuked the disciples for putting restrictions on access to Him, and the same goes for us. Our preconceived ideas about how relationship with God works, and our lofty opinions about how it should work, restrict our ability to receive all He has for us. Our religious merit systems restrict us--we'd rather earn our way onto His lap. Out disappointments, bitterness and defensiveness restrict us. Our shame and guilt and insecurity restrict us. Our pride in our appearance and accomplishments restricts us. Our desire to control our lives restricts us. All of it keeps us from coming unhindered to the one who counts us precious.

The children went to Jesus without anything of value to offer Him except their love and excitement to be there. He wanted to spend time with them, hug them, and healed them. He wanted to. And we are precious to Jesus too when we recognize our need for His help, when we're willing to defer, to receive, to be led, and to be loved on. We're precious when we come to Jesus with the simple expectation that because of who He is and how He loves, we're welcome, wanted, forgiven, and will be restored.



PRAYER FOCUS

In the spirit of childlike faith, go ahead and pray some popular children's prayers, but really mean them.

MOVING FORWARD

• What are some of the restrictions you've placed on your relationship with Jesus? What hinders you from communing with Him more closely?
• Read Isaiah 43:1-4, Luke 12:6-7, and Romans 5:6-8. According to His Word, what does God see when He looks at you?
• What are some new habits and thought patterns you need to develop in order to approach God in a more precious, faith-like-a-child way?