HOW THE FAITH OF CHILDREN AIDS THE CHURCH
What Kids Can Teach Us If We’re Willing To Learn.
In John 6, we read a miracle account, but it’s also an account about a little boy:
“1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him…“
“5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.“
“9 ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’ 10 Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down…“
“11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted…13…they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.“
Concentrate On Verse 9
Most of the time verse 9, “Here is a boy…” is a minor note of the miracle. But instead, let’s focus on this little boy. When I read this verse, my mind is filled with questions:
- Who is this boy?
- Where are his parents?
- Were they with him?
- Was he alone?
- Was he on his way home from the market?
- Was this his lunch that his mother packed?
- Did the disciples ask for his food?
- Did he offer it freely?
When this boy let go of those loaves and fish, he must have thought, “Will I get some of it back? Will I go hungry? Will I be trouble from my mother when I get home?“
He Gave Up His Food
Nevertheless, for whatever reason, this little boy entrusted his food to the Messiah‘s disciples. For me, when I read this account, I can’t help but wonder, “Were there adults in the crowd with food?“
Your telling me, that out of the thousands of people following Jesus, no one brought a snack? This little boy really the only one with food? (I don’t think so!)
I believe there was people with food, but I also believe that Jesus had a plan to send a greater message. One that had a lot to do with verse 6: “…he already had in mind what he was going to do.“
Children & the Kingdom
In Matthew 18, Jesus “…called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.“
Children have the benefit of living in the present.
They don’t worry about the future like adults do. Children have an ability trust more completely. Their faith has not yet been jaded by the difficulties of this world.
Children In the Church
This is what the church can learn from this generation: To be young again is to have child-like faith.
A church that’s making an impact for the Kingdom is often a church that has wholeheartedly embraced faith. Faith in prayer, faith in leadership, faith in policy, faith in procedure.
It’s a church that carries a willingness to allow unknowns, believing that God will provide answers when the time comes.
The church needs the faith of children.
