Last Sunday we had six children and a baby in church. I love having children and babies in church. The morning began with two little girls who ran in the door and gave me a big hug and showed me their pretty skirts and shoes. A little while later another little girl came in the back door and ran all the way to the pulpit to hug me and tell me she found her toy that she inadvertently left in the nursery the week before. Later two more children who were there for the first time gave me hugs. I love having children in the church … did I say that already? Well, I guess I can say it again.
I love having children in the church so much that we have made them part of our mission statement: To tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. That comes from Ps 78:4: “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
When I see these little ones come into church with their smiles and giggles, I cannot help but remember the warning Jesus gave about them. “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Matt 18:10
Should the Lord tarry, these little ones are the future of Christianity. They need to know that they are loved and welcomed in the family of God. I want them to know that they can laugh and dance and giggle and be joyful in the presence of the LORD. And I want the adults, when they look upon these little ones, to understand that we are responsible to love them the way Jesus loved them.
I pray we have even more children next Sunday and the Sunday after and the Sunday after that …. Oh, Father, I cannot think of anything sadder than a church barren of children. Fill our place O God! Amen.
