Accept One Another: Devotions From Time of GraceNäide

But He's Just a Kid! Long ago I taught middle school music for two semesters. One student's parents asked her how the class was going. "Well, he's okay, but he treats us like children," she replied. Her mom and dad had to look away as they suppressed their laughter. Children need to be treated as though their opinions and thoughts matter, which, of course, they do. Even the prophet Samuel, as he was sent to anoint the next king, guessed wrong, very wrong, at which of Jesse's sons was God's choice. It was the kid, David. "The LORD said to Samuel, '. . . The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart'" (1 Samuel 16:7). It was a little servant girl who hooked up the Syrian military commander, Naaman, with the prophet Elisha. That girl's brave testimony brought Naaman healing from his leprosy. Jesus greatly preferred the children's hosannas on Palm Sunday to the Pharisees' sneering on Monday (Matthew 21:15). Do you believe that children’s praise matters to God as much as yours? . . . that God has given them insights that adults miss? . . . that the body of Christ needs them as much as you? . . . that they are important partners in carrying out God's rescue mission?