An article by Pastor Edouard KOWALSKI
Let us seek to look at the children with the eyes and heart of Jesus. The children, in the time of Jesus, were like the children you know today. Jesus could meet the children you work with, he would have the same reactions. Let us try to discover Jesus’ attitude towards them and look at children with our hearts to respond with love to all their expectations.
The despised child
“Beware of despising any of these little ones.” (Matthew 18.10)
Because the child is smaller than us by size, we think that his needs are smaller or even non-existent. The child often has even greater needs than an adult. Why don’t we look at his soul? Is a child’s soul smaller than an adult’s soul? If from a food point of view, the child should have the right to the best pieces, then from a spiritual point of view, let us give him the best of God’s Word. Let us give him as much attention as possible for his spiritual life.
The misunderstood child
“The chief priests and scribes were outraged at the wonderful things Jesus had done and the children shouting in the temple: Hosanna to the Son of David! They said to him, “Do you hear what they say?” “Yes,” Jesus replied. Have you not read these words: You have drawn praise from the mouths of children…” (Matthew 21.15-16)
Religious people were annoyed by the cries of the children who followed Jesus. They were even more annoyed by the attitude of Jesus who let them scream. These religious people did not understand that the children praised Jesus in the manner of children and with children’s words. But Jesus understood that they were praising him very sincerely and he appreciated it very much. A child does not express himself like us, he does things spontaneously, without a way, he remains natural but sincere. The adult I am doesn’t always understand it. So let’s try to understand his joys, his prayers, and even his angers and sulks.
The rejected child
“Little children were brought to Jesus so that he might touch them. But the disciples took back those who brought them. Jesus, seeing this, was indignant!” (Mark 10.13)
Be aware of what these men were doing! They didn’t want the children to come to Jesus. They wanted to prevent the children from receiving the blessing of Jesus. They rejected them… it is true that these children were very small since Jesus will take them in his arms… they must have been between 2 and 6 years old. If Jesus wants to receive them, though so small, who are we to repel them? On the contrary, let us seek to bring to the Lord all children, even toddlers.
The child outraged
“But if someone scandalized one of those little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to hang a millstone from his neck, and throw him to the bottom of the sea.” (Matthew 18.6)
The disciples, very proud of themselves, come to Jesus to ask him who is therefore the greatest in the kingdom of God. And they did it in front of children who were very surprised by this state of mind! Jesus understood that the children were shocked by this attitude. A child looks at and observes everything. It can find in adults attitudes, shocking words. How many children have been hurt by harsh and unjust words, by hypocritical attitudes! Even if the child does not express it, he or she may be outraged. Because of the children, we have to look after our attitude and our words.
The Lost Child
“Similarly, it is not the will of your Father that is in heaven that he loses one of these little ones.” (Matthew 18.14)
Jesus has just told his audience the story of the shepherd who is looking for his lost sheep. In application, he talks about the perdition of these little ones. God wants to save the children. Jesus, on the Cross, also died for the children. If we do not know that the child is lost, how can we preach repentance to the child? The child needs to learn that Jesus loved him so much, that he died for him in Golgotha. Our main concern is to bring the child to salvation as soon as possible, by speaking to him from heaven and accepting Jesus, is to accept the Savior who saves us from the eternal fire of hell.
An article by Nicole DENIZOU
The child today
Listening to the concerns of society, the child today occupies a central place.
The child is a singular being, a social being similar to others
and different among others similar to him.
“If he is small, we talk about his parents; if he is a teenager, one is interested in his delinquency; in institutions, it is often the issue of the debate, called to endorse the choices of adults. He is no longer the infant of yesteryear, the one who does not speak. He speaks, the floor is given to him. It is also in his name, in the name of his good that we speak.
Is the child of politicians, educators, sociologists, shrinks, parents the same? This multiplicity of often contradictory discourses, which underpin modern Western educational practices, has led to a new conception of childhood that has gradually become part of practices and law, and which affects the relationships of authority, education and transmission between generations. (The Cluster’s Research)
And for God the child who is he?
His creature he loves, which is valuable to him. A unique being in its own right, recognized. A person in the making, who is the object of all his attention and with whom He wants to communicate. Someone who will be able to take on important responsibilities.
The child has not changed in the eyes of God, and his love has not varied towards him. God does not talk about the child, He knows him perfectly, he sees where he is, he knows what he needs, he is able to hear him and respond to his cry. He loves her with immeasurable love. Does he not say in the Bible: “If a woman abandoned the child she breastfeeds, I would collect him,” said the Lord. “Let the children come to me! Don’t stop them,” said Jesus (Luke 18:16)
God intervenes
I like God’s intervention in the narrative we find in the book of Genesis in chapter 21 of verse 17 to 20. A maid has just been driven from her master’s house with her child in the desert. She cries and doesn’t know what to do.
An angel comes and speaks to him: “God heard the child’s voice; in the place where he is. Get up, take the child, grab it with your hand; for I will make him a great nation. » It’s an order, but with a promise. “I will make him… » “She went to fill the extra with water, and gave him a drink. God was with the child, who grew up… »
Agard obeyed, God kept his promise. He did not abandon the child, but blessed him. He is a God who loves all children in the same way, regardless of the colour of their skin, the place where they live, whether they are rich or devoid of everything. He is a God of consolation, of mercy, a God who does not accept anyone. He takes care of his creature contrary to what we hear very often: “Where is God and what is he doing?” To believe that He is the author of evil! This is a great lack of knowledge of its nature. Nothing is hidden from him. He sees children wherever they are, He knows their needs, their thirst, in this arid world. He said again, “Get up, grab them by the hand.”
We want to respond
… eagerly and go fill our extras in order to give them a drink. We are aware that most children in our country have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us make known to the greatest number of people “the greatest promises ever made, and what God has done to keep it.” “For God loved the world so much that He gave his only son so that anyone who believes in him does not perish but is eternal life.” (John 3/16)
Play, musical, distribution of the Bible, relief to the most needy, distribution of food, clothing, toys, games, sponsorships of children, support to humanitarian and charitable associations… Every day for a long time already take action to meet the immense needs of all these children who suffer in one way or another, in order to bring them a little happiness, draw across borders a smile on their young faces too often marked.
All life needs to be heard, understood through its expectations, aspirations, worries, suffering, satisfaction in everyday life and uniqueness. There is no greater joy than giving what we have received with abundance. This ability to see, to hear, to listen is essential to avoid the double pitfall of perceiving the child only through theoretical, disembodied and generalizing concepts or alienating him in the representation of our own childhood.
Timothy’s legacy
As a young boy, Timothy lives with the Apostle Paul, he sees, hears and learns. “For you you have followed closely my teaching, my conduct, my plans, my faith, my gentleness, my love, my constancy.” What a testimony for a child!
He knows the price of living with God. He knows the difficulties: “… my persecutions, my sufferings.” But what he acquired as a child, that is, a solid teaching, will allow his faith to take root. Paul’s example and conduct will guide his life. “You remain in the things you have learned, and recognized some, knowing that you have learned them; from your childhood, you know the holy letters that can make you wise to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. »
When he became a man, he followed Paul. In this passage, the apostle exhorts him that “All writing is inspired by God, and useful to teach, to convince, to correct, to instruct in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fulfilled and fit for all good work.” The Word of God is indispensable for our children, it is the foundation par excellence.
Paul’s testimony, a reflection of the Word of God, will mark the life of this young boy, to lead him to be in turn a witness to Jesus Christ. What Paul passes on to Timothy is the legacy he has received from Jesus Christ, that is, all that he himself has learned from him.
The child is like a malleable land: he trusts; He is open and attentive; he is much more sensitive to spiritual things than the adult; he craves love and absolutes.
Mobilizing is a real necessity, both within and outside the Church. Let us go to the children of our neighbourhoods, of our city, and passing on to them the Gospel, the Good News. Others, with far less laudable intentions, understood this. Let us give this new generation of true values, an eternal hope and a reason to live that will change their world into a less cruel world, and above all into a world where we can freely speak of Jesus, our true hope.
Let’s commit to:
To respect the child:
As a person in his own right,
By listening to his needs, his questions, his difficulties…
By giving ourselves the means to put themselves within his reach,
By doing everything possible to encourage its development and preserve its physical, emotional, psychic, social and spiritual integrity.
To pass on the gospel taking into account the child’s age and context:
By offering appropriate materials, activities and pedagogy,
By also reaching out to those who do not know Jesus Christ.
To recognize the place of the child in the church:
As a full member,
By empowering him in the life of worship,
By accompanying him in his life as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
To encourage the child to find his place in society as:
Full member,
Responsible citizen,
Witness of Jesus Christ.
To equip parents and all those who work with children by proposing:
Various and varied training courses,
Appropriate tools.
To pray for:
The children of our churches,
The children of our neighbourhoods,
Families,
Educators.
Jesus said:
“LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME. DON’T STOP THEM! »
“Refusing a nostalgic vision of the ideal child, we must think of it in the context of today’s life, so that he imagines himself in his life of tomorrow.”
