Receiving faith in god as a kid

“Let the little children come to me.”

There is something encouraging about kids feeling safe in church.  You have probably seen these kids before.  The kids that feel safe are the ones that sing loudly, move quickly, and don’t care that someone else is talking.

This week at First Congregational Vacation Bible School is in full swing.  We have intentionally started small, reaching those in our church and our family members nearby.  The children have started to feel safe, they are playing games, and eating snacks.  Most importantly though, they are learning that God is real, and He loves each one of them.

It is a start, not only to Vacation Bible School, but to the lifelong discipleship that we hope to teach children, who will become teenagers, and ultimately adults.  What we have started to do is to reveal to children that God loves them.  We have been called to be faithful, the results are left to Him.

Jesus understood the need for children to encounter God, in Luke 18 we see the true story of Jesus interacting with children.

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

This scripture shares a few important theological ideas with us.  First of all, Jesus wanted nothing to stand in the way of children meeting God.  What barriers, traditions, or expectations have we created that stand in the way of children coming to know Christ?  What are we doing to reduce barriers for children to feel safe, encouraged, and loved by us and God?

Secondly, Jesus promised the kingdom of God to children.  I have heard it said more than once and have adopted this next statement for my life and ministry.  “Children are not the church of tomorrow, they are the church with us.”  Children are shaping the church of tomorrow, how are we encouraging them to use their gifts, talents, and abilities to give God glory and share the truths of God’s word with friends and family?

Finally, we are to receive faith in God as a child.  Jump with both feet into faith, don’t go halfway or hold anything back.  Put your faith in God, like a child trusts a parent.  When we put trust in God everything changes, we become His children, we inherit the kingdom of God and have direct access to God.