“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)
“He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” …Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”” (Matthew 18:2-3, 19:14)
Our Sunday Club is currently booming. It is a joy and a responsibility to have so many children and young people as a part of our congregation each week. Their ability to listen to the children’s addresses and their Sunday Club teaching and absorb it all is wonderful to see. Their accumulated Bible knowledge is striking. It is humbling to realise just how much they absorb. They process it all and think it through and then ask intelligent and searching questions. A child’s faith is never based on childish thinking. Anyone who thinks children will uncritically accept the telling of a Bible story as absolute and unquestionable truth has likely never engaged with a real child! They wonder about things and ask questions that have stretched theologians for centuries. And they instinctively help one another discuss their Bible stories and they work together to find satisfactory answers to their questions. The older ones are so patient and nurturing with the younger ones. Theirs is truly a faith seeking understanding and they have a genuine hunger for a faith that works for them and that they can build upon. The College teaching term may have come to a close but we must never stop questioning and exploring and learning.
Lord, help us to change and become like these little children.