Let them come...

Children.

Watoto.

Oh how precious they are to our good good Father's heart.  

Several weeks ago, we had the privilege of taking Jesus to children in a remote village in the Turkana region in northern Kenya.  Looking back at the week, one of my favourite parts of the camp was seeing the local church serve the children and us work as a team.  We were able to come alongside Kenyan friends to see the children come to know Jesus.  We weren't there to run our own show but to serve alongside our friends there that have laboured for years to disciple the people and advance God's Kingdom.   We saw children come to know Jesus.  Like really know Him.  Not just talk and hear about Him but for the first time, they encountered the living God and said yes.  Love was calling and many said yes.  We watched children equipped with the Word of God.  Children no longer wondering if God really loved them.  The simplest way I can sum it up is that love crashed in.  

Every morning, as the sun was rising, I'd wake up to pray for our day.  And everyday, it was as though the words God put in my heart were vibrating deep within.  I couldn't shake it.  It was a bold yet simple truth that He kept whispering to my heart -- Do not hinder the children, let them come to me.  

DO NOT hinder the children... 

LET THEM COME.  

LET them come.    

"People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on 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.  Truly I tell you, 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, placed his hands on them and blessed them."  Mark 10:13-17

And those that are hungry... 

Let them come.

To those feeling alone...

Let them come.

To those who feel used, abandoned, forgotten...

Let them come.

To those that have no clothes, those that are sick and hurting...

Let them come.

 Those that are tormented by evil and need deliverance...

Let them come.

Those that are left to die...

Let them come.

To those trapped inside of a slum, watching their grandmother prostitute herself out daily...

The ones needing the freedom to be a child again... to create and laugh just as children were created to do...

Let them come.

Jesus said it himself --- For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  

 So what is the kingdom of God consist of?  

"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." 

‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."  Matthew 10:8

"But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." Luke 11:12

Jesus made it so simple for us, He demonstrated the Kingdom while on earth.  He is our perfect example.  He preached the gospel of the Kingdom and in doing so, He healed the sick, cast out demons and worked miracles.  He went to the lost, hurt and dying.  He loved the unlovable.  He comforted those that mourned.  He gave them JOY instead of sorrow.  He then commissioned the disciples to do the same and then another 70... then multiplication happened and eventually that mandate trickled down to us here and now. (Matthew 4:23-24, Matt 9:35, Matt 12:28, Luke 10:1,8,9, Mark 16:15-20)  

He also taught us how to pray, asking for His Kingdom  "... your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..."  Children get this so quickly.  Whatever isn't in heaven, shouldn't be here.  It's simple.

I know, I know... I'm getting my preachy pants on but goodness gracious yall...  God knows when He rattles my bones with a word like this, I can't keep quiet.

When we are not obedient to the call of God on our lives.  Or to letting the gifting's of Holy Spirit flow through us.  Or the times when we shrink back to sharing His love -- His truth -- His light -- His abundant life.  Is it possible we are hindering the children from coming to Jesus?  Because how will they know unless they are told?  How will they know who this Jesus is unless they are shown? 

"... for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction"  1 Thess 1:5

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"  Romans 10:14

And then I just love what Jesus did after He told them not to hinder the children and to let them come...

"... He took them in His arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them"

Because sometimes, we show them Jesus by simply giving a hug and blessing them.