Select a Ring of Truth daily devotion online
Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
Select the date to display the devotion for:
Mark 10:13-16
“People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.”
Let them come.
These verses have very special meaning to my wife, Cathryn, and me. Indeed, for our children too. You see, they are the verses we put on our son, Matthew’s tombstone. Matthew died as a result of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). He was 10 weeks old when he died. That time when he was just beginning to focus and smile and become a real boy instead of just a baby. We loved him dearly – as indeed everyone who met him. Even the medics who seemed less affectionate found something special in Matthew.
So why did he die? Why should such a lovely, bouncing, healthy boy have to die? I don’t know why. But it was in the Sovereign Will of God. How do I know? Because God is a good God.
On the Sunday before he died, we had his dedication service. We had all our children dedicated to the Lord. Matthew is our fourth and last. During the service the officiator asked us, “Do you give Matthew back to Jesus?” Through tears of joy and innocence, we said “Yes.” Later that week, Jesus said “Thank you” and took him to be with Himself.
We were not robbed of our son. We had been asked to give him back and had said, “Yes”. Jesus had said, “Thank you. He will now be with Me until you meet again.” Death is not the end. It is just the beginning of a new phase.
Revelation 5 talks about the song sung by those around the throne. “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your Blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I believe there will also be representatives of every age group and our son Matthew is there to represent the 10-week olds.
Grief is a very personal thing and unique. For your aged parent or a sick relative to die is, in some ways, to be expected but for your own healthy child to die is very poignant and inexplicable. I guess it is nearer to children being killed through no fault of their own, when they have life’s full potential in front of them. I took great comfort from knowing that even Jesus asked His Heavenly Father while He was on the Cross, “Why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) Like Jesus, I got no answer but I learnt there is no sin in asking “Why?”
God loves children. Indeed, one of His promises referring to the restored Jerusalem is – “The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there” (Zechariah 8:5).
Jesus spent time with the disciples trying to get them to understand meekness. They tried to find out which of them was the greatest, so He put a child amongst them and said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My Name welcomes Me” (Mark 9:33-37). And by implication, anyone who doesn’t rejects Christ.
Yet in our verse for today, the disciples still haven’t grasped it. So Jesus says it again. “Anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15). How do they enter? Without rights, without ‘baggage’, but with innocence, ignorance, hope, faith and wonder.
Have you lost your love or patience with children? If so, repent before God, ask for His forgiveness and to give you His ‘eyesight’.
Have you grown up too far? Have you lost the ‘wonder’ of the Kingdom of God and your salvation? Can you make a better job of life on your own?
Stop, climb back up on Jesus’ knee and be blessed by Him today.
Download the above Ring of Truth devotion as a PDF.
Previous Day's Devotion | Next Day's Devotion
To subscribe to this daily devotion by email visit our Daily Email subscription page.
