Focus
Relax and clear your head. Listen for the voice of God. What is God saying to you today?
Read
Mark 10:2-16 (NRSV)
Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Reflect
About forty to fifty percent of marriages in the United States end in divorce. Divorce can be devastating for children so perhaps that is the reason Mark followed questions from the Pharisees about divorce with Jesus blessing the little children.
The disciples thought Jesus should not be bothered with children. Jesus knew he was on the way to the cross, but he cared for children and wanted them near him. I like to think it gave him some moments of peace. The children were drawn to him because of his kindness and he must have been smiling.
It is obvious our pastor loves children and they feel it. Sometimes I think of this scripture when they go running up for children’s time during our worship service.
We must have childlike trust when we come to Jesus.
Pray
Dear God, help us to put our complete trust in you. Guide us as we spend time with the children around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Go with God!
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