June 2024 Revealing Light Newsletter

For many families, summertime means adjustments. School is out, family schedules change, students are home or with other family members, trips are taking place together, etc. Overall, family members may find that they are spending more time together than they usually do. But there is this gift in having this time together, it gives us the opportunity to have the space to get to know each other more, work through some things that the school year seems to rush, and gives each of us time to be challenged to grow together.

The truth is, kids can teach adults as much as adults try to teach them. It’s okay to take some pressure off from trying to always teach children (kids, grandkids, your adult daughters and sons) and provide the space for children to teach each of us as well.

Jesus told His Disciples, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” [Mt 18:3]. The Disciples needed to learn from the children because the Kingdom of God belongs to people like the children [Mt 19:14].

Maybe it’s because we need to learn from children and learn like children. They are so inquisitive and haven’t limit God to what He can or can’t do. Maybe it’s because they have a different perspective on life than adults do, or they share their unfiltered minds (like unfiltered prayers with God), or they want to feel safe with their parents. Ultimately though, children depend on their parents, and the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are dependant on Him as our Heavenly Father and Savior.

- Daryl Struemph

[Jesus] said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” [Matthew 18:3–6 (ESV)]

In other words:
Receive the Kingdom of God as dependent children of God; but as Disciples of Jesus, don’t hinder others from receiving God’s Kingdom, or else it’d be better for us to get out of the way. Don’t cause these little ones to stumble, it would be better for a millstone to be around our neck and thrown into the sea than to cause these little ones to stumble in their excited nurturing relationship with God.

Shortly after Jesus tells the Disciples these things, the opportunity comes for the Disciples to put Jesus’ teaching into practice — to receive children in Jesus’ Name.
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There had been large crowds gathering to hear Jesus, to ask Jesus questions, and even debates to trap Jesus. In the midst of these important “adult” conversations...

“...they were bringing children to him that he might touch them [to give a Rabbinic Blessing], and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. [Mark 10:13–16]

On one side, we see Jesus become indignant in which He rebukes the rebukers [His Disciples]. He then turns toward the children and receives them, and not only puts His hands on them to bless them but embraces them as God’s children.

Tim Harlow, from Parkview Christian Church, wrote in his book, What Made Jesus Mad?,
"Everything Jesus came to accomplish had to do with reuniting the Father with his children. So if access to the Father was Jesus’ purpose on earth, then it logically follows that it angered Jesus the most when people created barriers to that access.”

Overall, we are reminded to not hinder the children; instead, nurture their faith. Don’t quench it, encourage and empower them in the ways they are God’s children, how God has made them. In many ways, they are actually teaching us how to be dependant children of God.

I’ve been left asking, how are we nurturing their developing relationship with Jesus in the ways God has uniquely made each of them?

We’re left with this question for all of us, how are we nurturing each of our developing relationships with Jesus as disciples and children of God?”
 
- Daryl Struemph

Camp Mocomi is taking place throughout the month of June!
You can register at campmocomi.com