Loving Children as God Does 要像上帝那样爱小孩子

[Dexu Xia]

The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14

Today's Scripture Mark 10:13-16

Today's Insights

The scene from today’s Scripture passage (Mark 10:13-16) occurs not long after Jesus had made another comment about children. As Christ and the disciples were “[passing] through Galilee” (9:30), His disciples got into a quarrel about which of them was the greatest (vv. 33-34). Jesus knew what they’d been discussing, of course, but He didn’t preach a sermon against their sinful ambition. Instead, “He took a little child whom he placed among them” and said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (vv. 36-37). His object lesson about humility was obvious. That’s why it’s surprising when they “rebuked” people who were literally “bringing little children to Jesus” (10:13). They still hadn’t learned that “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (v. 14). As we express our childlike trust in Christ, we’ll want to welcome all who’re overlooked and undervalued.

Today's Devotion  All summer long, the children in the house behind ours spend hours swinging on their swing set. Their noisy swing set. Its creaky noise doesn’t bother the children who seem, some days, to swing endlessly. Complaining, I asked my husband why their parents don’t oil the swing. Praying about it, however, I noticed a change in my heart. I could see the children’s laughter and joy bursting from the trust they find in their family’s yard, and in having parents within calling distance nearby.

Jesus spoke of such trust when speaking of children. People were bringing their children to Jesus so He could bless them, but His annoyed disciples scolded the parents, rebuking them (Mark 10:13).

Seeing this, Christ “was indignant” (v. 14). “Let the little children come to me,” He told them, “and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” He added, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (vv. 14-15).

He’d already taught His disciples this when they’d argued who among them was greatest. Taking a child in His arms, on another occasion, Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (9:37). Demonstrating the same idea, “He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them” (10:16). What beautiful reminders to be childlike in our trust in Jesus.

Reflect & Pray

What do you enjoy about the joy of children? How can you learn to love those who annoy you at times?

Please grow my love for others, ever-present and loving God.

 By Patricia Raybon

让小孩子到我这里来，不要禁止他们，因为在神国里的正是这样的人。（马可福音 10:14）

今日经文：马可福音 10:13-16

今日洞见： 今天经文（马可福音 10:13-16）中的场景，发生在耶稣谈论关于孩子的另一件事之后不久。当基督和门徒“经过加利利”（9:30）时，门徒之间曾因辩论谁为大而彼此相争（33-34节）。耶稣当然知道他们在争什么，但他并没有针对他们那充满罪性的野心进行说教。相反，他“领一个小孩子来，叫他站在门徒中间”，并说：“凡为我名接待一个像这小孩子的，就是接待我”（36-37节）。耶稣明显在以此教导门徒要谦卑。耶稣都如此说了，门徒竟然还要责备那些真正带着小孩子来见耶稣的人，（10:13），这着实令人惊讶。显然，门徒仍未明白耶稣所说,“神的国正是属于这样的人”这句话真正的意义（14节）。当我们向基督表​​达孩童般的信靠时，我们也当乐意接纳那些被人忽视轻看的小孩子。

  今日灵修：整个夏天，我家后院邻居的孩子们每天都在秋千架上玩耍好几个小时。那是个吱吱作响的秋千架，但是那吱吱呀呀的声音分毫都没有影响孩子们的玩乐。那些日子里，他们似乎整天没完没了地荡着那吱吱作响的秋千。我曾为此抱怨，并问丈夫，为什么这些孩子的父母不给秋千上点油。然而，在我为此事祷告时，我察觉到自己内心的改变，因为我意识到，孩子们之所以笑得这么开心，是因为他们是在自家院子里，自觉非常安全，因为父母就在近处、他们相信有事父母会随叫随到。

 耶稣在谈论孩子时，也提到了这种信靠。当时人们带着孩子来见耶稣，希望他能为孩子祝福，但门徒却感到不耐烦，甚至斥责那些父母（马可福音 10:13）。 看到这一幕，基督“就恼怒了”（14节）。 “让小孩子到我这里来，”祂对他们说，“不要禁止他们，因为神的国正是属于这样的人的。”祂又补充道：“凡要承受神国的人，若不像小孩子，断不能进去”（14-15节）。

  当门徒们争论谁为大时，祂就曾教导过他们这一点。在另一个场合，耶稣把一个孩子抱在怀里说：“凡为我的名接待一个像这小孩子的，就是接待我”（9:37）。祂也以行动彰显了同样的教导：“祂把孩子们抱在怀里，给他们按手，为他们祝福”（10:16）。这些美好的画面提醒我们，要像孩子一样信靠耶稣。

 反思与祷告 孩子们那种纯真的喜乐，有哪些令你喜爱之处？你该如何学习去爱那些有时会让你感到烦恼的人？ 求祢增长我对人的爱，那时刻与我们同在、充满慈爱的神啊。

作者：帕特里夏·雷邦