"It's In The Book"
"Children"
"Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me." (Mark 9:37 NLT)Jesus taught the disciples to welcome children. This was a new approach in a society where children were usually treated as second-class citizens. It is important not only to treat children well but also to teach them about Jesus. Children's ministries should never be regarded as less important than those for adults.
(Mark 9:36-37 - Life App Study Bible NLT)"But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with large mill stone hung around your neck." (Mark 9:42)Luke 9:48 states, "Whoever is the least among you is the greatest."
In Jesus' eyes, whoever welcomes a child welcomes Jesus; giving a cup of cold water to a person in need is the same as giving an offering to God. By contrast, harming others or failing to care for them is a sin, even if they are unimportant people in the world's eyes. It is possible for thoughtless, selfish people to gain a measure of worldly greatness, but lasting greatness is measured by God's standards. What do you use as your measure--personal achievement or unselfish service ?
(Mark 9:41-42 Life App Study Bible Notes)This caution against harming little ones in the faith applies both to what we do individually as teachers and examples and to what we allow to fester in our Christian fellowship. Our thoughts and actions must be motivated by love
(1 Corinthians 13),
"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."...and we must be careful about judging others
(Matthew 7:1-5); "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.
(Romans 14:1-15:4). "Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong." However, we also have a responsibility to confront flagrant sin within the church."
(1 Corinthians 5:12, 13) It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.
(Mark 9:42 Life App Study Bible NLT)One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
(Mark 10:13 Life App Study Bible NLT) "When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them,
"Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." 16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them." (Mark 10:14-16)
"Faith Is Grown Not Stored"
"The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"
(Mark 9:24 NLT)The attitude of trust and confidence that the Bible calls
belief or
faith is not something we can obtain without help. Faith is a gift from God. No matter how much faith we have, we never reach the point of being self-sufficient. Faith is not stored away like money in the bank. Growing in faith is a constant process of daily renewing our trust in Jesus.
(Mark 9:24 Life App Study Bible NLT)"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
(Heb. 11:1)"Until Then"
Love You,
