Children as God's Greatest...

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14). The Kingdom may belong to the children but do they have the right to vote in a church business session?

I would expect that if children have very little to contribute to the church because of their underdeveloped intellect and their lack of experience with the world's ways, that God would pass them by in order to find more qualified candidates for service. I would expect that there would be few if any examples of God using these "weak" ones.

Allow me to share with you seven biblical examples of God speaking to and working through children:

• Mary who conceived by the Holy Spirit and brought Jesus into the world (Luke 1:26-38).


• King Josiah who took the throne of Israel at age 8 (2 Kings 22:1-2).


• David who through the power of God slew a giant (1 Samuel 16:7-13; 17:33, 42, 55-56).


• Joseph who received prophetic dreams (Genesis 37:1-11).


• Samuel who heard the voice of God (1 Samuel 2:18; 3:1-19).


• John the Baptist who recognized Jesus in the womb while in the womb himself (Luke 1:41-45).


• Jesus who taught the teachers at age 12 (Luke 2:40-52).

So, if God has used children in the past--why couldn't he also use children in the present and in the future? Is it possible that a church could cut itself off from the influence of these "kingdom owners" by denying them the ability to fully participate in church decisions? Isn't the "eye" guilty of saying to the "hand", "I don't need you" by closing our ears to the voices of our children? (1 Corinthians 12:21).

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18:1-5).