Why Welcome Little Children?

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:37

The words of Jesus ring just as true today as when He spoke them.

Why welcome little children?

Because to do so requires us to see the best in them, not only when they’re cute, cuddly and lovable but also when they are loud or disobedient or obnoxious. We should see them as important, as important as any adult. We are to see them through a filter of their potential in Christ.

Jesus is reminding us to humble ourselves and one of the best ways to do this is to hang out with children and celebrate the amazing innocence with which they see life.

Over the next few days this is my prayer for growth personally as I head out on an exciting adventure. I have been invited to join a team of pastors traveling to the country of Trinidad and Tobago off the coast of Venezuela for an Operation Christmas Child distribution trip.

Over the next three days we will be interacting with the local churches of Trinidad, bringing joy and gifts to the hearts of children in the name of Jesus. It’s going to be so much fun!

My prayer is to serve with a spirit of humility and joy…seeing every child as an amazingly unique creation with unlimited potential in the Lord.

Will you pray with me for this?

This year alone, Samaritan’s Purse will distribute almost 10 million Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes and I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of Savannah Christian Church as so many of our members enthusiastically dive into the effort.

Each November, Savannah Christian Church serves as an Operation Christmas Child collection center; almost 14,000 shoe boxes came through our buildings in 2013!

And while very few of us will ever meet the children receiving our gift boxes, that doesn’t change the love and prayers which fill each box.

My hope is to communicate the experience and share my thoughts as the Lord molds me this week.

When Jesus tells us to welcome children in His name, He’s saying by so doing you welcome the God of the universe into your life.

Praise Him for a church family which loves God and loves others by demonstrating it in a tangible way to needy children around the world.

Savannah Christian Church, you have Chosen Compassion.

Often to the most innocent of all.