“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be a different place because I was important in the life of a child.”

 

I don’t know who first penned those words, but they are true and powerful.

 

Stepping In: READ IT

Read Matthew 19:1-30

 

Building Up: STUDY IT

Focus on Matthew 19:14

 

Yesterday I passed on looking at Jesus’ thoughts about children, but today we are. Jesus’ words in verse 14 are thick and should fall heavy on the church today. We talk about it often at Community because we have a huge responsibility when it comes to passing on our faith to the generations that follow.

 

As you chew on this verse a bit more, think about it this way: How might we hinder young people from coming to Jesus? 

 

Living Out: APPLY IT

 

Application questions (Is there a… 1. Sin to CONFESS 2. Promise to CLAIM 3. Attitude to CHANGE 4. Command to OBEY 5. Example to FOLLOW (or not) 6. Prayer to PRAY 7. Error to AVOID 8. Truth to BELIEVE 9. Something to PRAISE GOD FOR). 

 

I love that Jesus loves children and talks about them, blesses them and holds them up as our role model. Here, for me, there is an attitude to change (and if not change, to make sure I keep it on the right track).

 

Dear Father, help us always at Community to give our children and young people the priority of our effort, creativity, resources, love and attention. We are known for some very good things in our valley, and that’s great…but most of all I want us to be known as a church that loves children as You do.