Mark 10:13-16 (ESV) And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”16 And He took them in his arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them.
During one of our scheduled outreach times on the Local Missions Trip, we walked through downtown Glen Rock. We split up into groups and asked people whether they needed prayer. My partner Amelia, my leader Eunice, and I stood by the CVS. A mother named Kelly and her daughter, Josie, were walking by, and we asked whether we could pray for them. Kelly welcomed us to pray. Seeing Josie pray with us was especially encouraging. Later, as they left, Kelly shared with us that Josie felt comforted after we prayed with them. I was inspired by how much trust she had in prayer. Jesus encourages us to have the same childlike dependence on Him. Similarly, an elderly woman, Marta, and her grandson came up to us. Marta was very happy that we were offering this service. When we started to pray, she made sure that her grandson was praying with us. The Lord showed me how important it is for parents or caregivers to take the initiative in leading children toward Him, as seen in Mark 10. This reminded me of how much Jesus values children and desires for them to come to Him.
Later in the week, we had another opportunity to serve children during VBS. Our group helped to decorate rooms and set up activities. During VBS itself, everyone took their assigned roles. I was assigned to help with games, and since the gym echoes, it was difficult to wrangle the kids in the midst of so many fun activities. After going home, I spoke with my mother about how difficult it was to get kids to listen and how I was losing patience. The Lord reminded me that I could understand, in a small way, why the disciples in Mark 10 became impatient and tried to turn the children away. It became very obvious to me, the need to lean on Christ. Often, I found myself praying for patience. Looking back, I can see how the Lord used those moments to teach me about His love for children, the importance of childlike faith, and my own need to depend on Him through prayer. The openness, trust, and sincerity I saw in the children reflected the kind of pure-hearted faith that draws us closer to God.
Matthew 5:8 (ESV) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Nehara Thampy is a member of GRC and goes to Wayne Valley High School.