Title [Matthew 18:1-4] Lessons on Children
Text: Matthew 18:1-4
Title: Lessons for Children
Today is Children's Day. God bless all the children who are growing up in the Lord, especially those who are growing up in our Sunday School. Jesus loved and loved children very much. While talking about heaven, he spoke about children, but children appear in today's sermon. One time the disciples asked Jesus a question. “Who is the greatest in heaven?” At this time, Jesus called a little child, put him among them, and gave various lessons.
1. He said that unless we become like children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven (3).
Little children are innocent. Trust and follow people's words. and depend on it. Jesus taught that such a person can go to heaven. Faith must be pure. Faith is trusting, relying, and following completely. Young children are so simple. We need to see and learn from our children this simple and naive faith.
2. He said that those who humble themselves like children are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (4).
Young children are always shy. I'm not pretentious. Some children these days pretend to be the best, but adults made them that way. It is the original form of children that they cannot stand up and say that no matter what they do, they say that they are not good at it. This is humility. God rejects the proud and gives grace to the humble. Those whom Jesus loves the most and exalts are those who humble themselves. Paul also told us to consider others better than ourselves. Philippians 2:3 says, “Let nothing be done through stripe or vanity, but in lowliness of mind let each one consider others better than himself.” This is also the heart of Jesus. In order for us to become truly great people, I hope that we will strive to humble ourselves first.
3. He said to welcome children (5).
Even when Jesus was on earth, little children were not welcome. Even the disciples of Jesus were reluctant to have children come. So I kept trying to get him out. But Jesus rebuked me, saying, “Let the children come to me and do not drive them out. Even the kingdom of heaven belongs to such people.” The church must welcome children. A church without children has no hope. Adults should always welcome children and care for them warmly and lovingly. When children welcome each other, Jesus rejoices and gives great blessings.
4. He was told not to despise children (10).
It means to be valued. Children, too, have life that is more precious than the world, and they are beings with a perfect personality. Yet we often ignore and despise children. It was wrong. Rather, we should remember that God is pleased when children's opinions are respected and valued. Children are smitten, too. Do not ignore or despise other children. Some children don't study and don't even want to play with their poor friends, which is a mistake. Knowing that everyone is precious before God, we must be careful not to despise them. Such a person will receive a lot of love from Jesus.
5. He said that not one child should fall (6-7, 14).
If I left the church because of me, I made that person fall. But the truth is, there are a lot of these things. If I speak wrongly or act wrongly, causing others to get hurt and put into a test, I will face a terrible judgment before God. The text says, “It is not the will of your Father in heaven that even one of these least of these should be lost” (14) and “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for a large millstone to be hung around his neck and It is better for him to be thrown into the sea” (6) and even said, “Woe to that man” (7). Let's take a look back at our lives so far. And let's take the words Jesus taught today and put them into practice. To us and to our children and grandchildren, God bless you with grace.