Tonight, as I was arriving at my oldest son's baseball game, I was greeted by a troupe of children and my wife (my biologicals, plus some extras). She went back to the car, looking for an extra baseball glove. I loaned one more to another kid, as we ran out; it was great watching them all play together. They didn't know one another, but they knew they wanted to play. One of the little boys adopted M and I as surrogate aunt and uncle, and we shared chairs, some snacks, and blankets with this little boy. Throughout the game, the kids played together. After the game, we all went to McDonald's, and my oldest, still in his uniform, found another kid clad in a ball uniform. they acted like they knew each other all their lives, and were old friends . I talked to the boy's mother, enviously wishing I could so easily get to know people.
In the great commission, we're all told to make disciples of all nations; we're also told in the Great Commandment to love God with all we are, and our neighbors as ourselves. If we could so easily love, as our children do, how easily could we make disciples? Kids seem to love without prejudice: it comes naturally. True, they have jealousies, and so many other things, but their love is usually freely given. I think we can all learn a lot from our kids. We need to learn to lift our own prejudices, and love freely and openly. This is how we will show Christ's love: by loving one another. This is how we will advance the kingdom, by coming to it as children, and loving easily. Matthew 18:1-6 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
Mark 10:13-15 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 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. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
