Then were brought unto him little boys and girls, that he should place his hands on them, and pray: yet the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Let the children come, and do not be forbidding them to come toward me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he placed his hands on them (Matthew 19:13-15).
God has a heart for children, especially those who have been abandoned, the fatherless, he hears their cries. On a recent trip to visit orphans, my life was tremendously impacted. One instance was when a child had been left at the orphanage the week we were there. With seven siblings to feed she, being the youngest, was abandoned. As I held her I began to think of what she must be going through. I began to groan as my Spirit prayed for this precious girl. She noticed my tears, wiping them away she placed her face against mine. For an hour we watched the boys fish, her cheek against mine, neither of us moving. For that short time I felt the powerful love of God for her and me. For a week I let children come to him, expressed through me his love for the fatherless. His kingdom on earth.
During Jesus's time on earth there was a mixture of Jewish and Greek culture, this period is referred to as the Hellenistic period or age. The false Greek gods were worshiped by many in society and they did not value their children. Unwanted children would be abandoned or thrown over cliffs to perish, often sold into slavery as laborers or sexual objects. This influenced typical Jewish society; it was considered an insult for children to approach Jesus. Jesus spoke against such treatment of children and early Christians took in these abandoned children. Early Christianity is credited with so much in the way of helping children.
Today is much like the time of Jesus. It has been reported that slavery is worse today than at any other time in history. Due in part to the world population being so large but also to the devaluation of children. Children are being abandoned, sold, kidnapped, and sadly neglected under our very eyes. Culturally in America we are in fear mode, while we must protect our children, we can not live in fear. God has not given us such a spirit, but of power, love, and a sound mind. We must not let society deprive our children of the God given need for adult attachment.
God has a heart for children, especially those who have been abandoned, the fatherless, he hears their cries. On a recent trip to visit orphans, my life was tremendously impacted. One instance was when a child had been left at the orphanage the week we were there. With seven siblings to feed she, being the youngest, was abandoned. As I held her I began to think of what she must be going through. I began to groan as my Spirit prayed for this precious girl. She noticed my tears, wiping them away she placed her face against mine. For an hour we watched the boys fish, her cheek against mine, neither of us moving. For that short time I felt the powerful love of God for her and me. For a week I let children come to him, expressed through me his love for the fatherless. His kingdom on earth.
James writes that "pure religion, undefiled before God and the Father is this; to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27). I do not think one can escape this truth; if your religion is true you will be helping the fatherless. When we as the body of Christ let children grow up without knowing the affectionate love of family then we are not being pure in our religion and are not valuing our children. The Bible promises that if we guide a child in the ways of God, they will not depart from it. When a fatherless boy reaches adulthood unguided, he is truly still a child, and he will raise his children as a child and this cycle will continue. If we do not break the cycle who will? Jesus taught us to pray, let thy kingdom come, let thy will be done, in heaven and on earth. Let the little children come to him, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.