Title: Lessons from Children / Matthew 18:5-10
Contents Lessons from children/Matthew 18:5-10
Introduction: We see that as life improves, people focus on emotional life. That's why every house grows good pots and flowers. They also go to flower shops to buy pretty flowers and give them to people they admire or love. No one hates flowers. East and West, everyone loves flowers.
But there are other things as beautiful as flowers. Children.
This is where Flower Week originated. Why are children called flowers?
Because it is as beautiful as a flower. And because it is growing into good fruit for tomorrow.
However, children who are these beautiful and pretty flowers are often ignored and trampled on by adults.
In the Old Testament times, women and children were not treated very well. So, when they crossed the Red Sea, the number of people was 600,000 men. This stems from the tendency to take children lightly.
Even at the time of Jesus, such an idea was at the bottom. So, while explaining the miracle of five jars and two fish in the wilderness of Bethsaida, the Gospel writers consistently did not count women and children. This was the common custom.
But Jesus completely changed these traditional ideas and customs.
He said, "Let little children come to me, and do not forbid them."
So, after Jesus, the view of children has changed, the status of children has increased, and their interest has improved. Children are beautiful flowers that bring hope and joy to a lonely desert-like world.
Today, we would like to hear the lessons from children as beautiful and cute as flowers.
1. Children are naive.
The charm of young children lies in their innocence. Most young children are naive. There are cases where parents often become “bad children,” but beyond that, there are many more innocent children who have undefiled minds.
Today we have lost it all. Those of us who have lost it in the past have never forgotten it, so we always yearn for it. Now, even when all of our bodies are grown up, we have no choice but to rely on the grace of Christ to continue to maintain the goodness and loveliness of a child.
Children are attracted by their innocence. There are double lines like adults, and there is no smoke screen. Anything is expressed in the truth. And act as it is. As you see it, as you hear it, you can see the true figure who doesn't know how to decorate. Such is life in heaven.
2. Children are trustworthy.
Little children do not know how to doubt. I trust people instinctively. They always believe that the world is full of their friends.
Children trust their parents 100%. I believe in what I say, without examining whether or not it is possible. Even if it's a lie, I totally believe it.
In contrast, adults rely on their own consciousness and experience. Even in the Word of God, calculation takes precedence over faith. In that sense, the lessons that young children give are really great.
1 Peter 2:2 says this.
“Like newborn babies, long for pure, spiritual milk, so that through it you may grow up to salvation.”
Young children only crave milk. Without milk, it cannot grow. Those who long for it can receive the blessings of heaven, but in the adult world, they depend only on perishable substances and do not long for milk. We must become saints who long for only the Word, knowing that we cannot live without the Word.
3. Children are constantly on the move.
Young children continue to grow. That's why children grow up quickly. Parents who see that kind of thing feel joy no matter how difficult it is for you.
If you have a child who is not growing, you sigh because it is a sign that your child is somehow ill.
Therefore, all saints must continue to grow and change like little children. The highest goal of the saints is to grow up until they reach the kingdom of the Lord.
Heaven is always about moving your mouth to praise and worship the Lord and move your body to serve.
4. Children have a strong sense of imitation.
When young children see a strange object, they touch it and try to make it the same. So they easily imitate everything adults do.
Therefore, you have to be careful in front of children. If you show bad things in front of children, the child will choose bad things and if you do good things, that child will only do good things.
Therefore, all believers should look only to Jesus wherever and whenever. Because only then, we must become like Jesus to become beautiful saints.
Ex) The apostle Paul was originally a man named Saul. When he was young, he was a pawn for those who caught and killed those who believed in Jesus. Then he changed like a little child and said, "Be ye imitators of me, just as I imitated Jesus."
The kingdom of heaven is a life lived with Jesus, so it is difficult if we do not resemble Jesus. Therefore, just as little children imitate adults, the saints should actively serve the Lord and live according to the Lord.
5. Children are grateful for anything.
As people get older, things become more and more obvious. However, young children appreciate and appreciate the attention focused on them.
Even if you are an employee of a hotel or restaurant, and even if you are expected to serve a customer, if you do not say "thank you" from the customer's side and say it with an arrogant attitude, let alone a grateful face, you will feel that serving is pathetic.
On the other hand, if you show your appreciation clearly on your face, you will receive better kindness service.
Today, we too would be grateful if we could say thank you to all who do the Lord's work with a childish heart and show our sincerity through our thanks.
conclusion ; Dear saints,
I pray that you will become the best saint loved by the Lord by throwing off the old heart of an adult and possessing a heart like a child.