Verse of the Day 3/2

Through the Bible - Numbers 29-31, Mark 10:1-34

 

Good morning,

In recent "verse of the day's" we've considered, who is my neighbor and who is "the least of these".  In today's verses we'll consider just who are the children of God as referred to here.

 

It is another instance where some of the disciples are arguing about who would be the greatest.   Jesus puts them and us in proper perspective.

Mark 9:36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."   NKJV
or from the Message

Mark 9:36 He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, "Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me — God who sent me."

In preparing for these "VOTD's" I'll often have a verse in mind a couple of days ahead of time and will read & listen to sermons, read commentaries on the passage,  and generally have the verses in mind during the day and will notice life illustrations that apply.  So was the case with today's verses, I actually woke up at 3am this morning in tears thinking about them.

The word for "takes in His arms or embraces" in the Message is literally "hugs".

I had listened to then read John Piper's sermon on this passage, he had the following insights regarding children, "there is no  political payback in serving children: they can't vote. And they don't give speeches about how great is your helpfulness. In fact they pretty much take for granted that you will take care of them. They don't make a big deal out of the fact that you pour your life out for them. And so, children prove, more clearly than any other kind of people, whether you are truly great or not—whether you live to serve or live to be praised. (Cf. Luke 14:13–14 for how the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind also prove this.)."

The last few words in parentheses especially struck me.  We need to think beyond children in this passage. It is a picture of anyone that realizes that they can't earn their standing before God, they should want to be loved, to be hugged by God as a child wants to be held and hugged by his parents.

Most of you know our son Jeff who was injured in a car accident almost ten years ago, an accident which left him with a brain injury and severe physical handicaps.  It's as if we lost the Jeff that we knew, and received another son.  Jeff, because of his injuries, has probably been my greatest teacher (other than God and His Word).  He has taught me more about unconditional love, hope, trust, joy, peace, appreciation, and receiving hugs.

He is one of "the least of these", to others a neighbor, and thankfully one of God's children, even as a young man of 26.  One of the great blessings that I receive from Jeff is to see him loved this way by many friends at St. Mark's Church as well as neighbors and family.  God sees these simple acts of compassion and kindness.  He also see it when we argue or reason in our minds about who is the greatest among us.

It's not just limited to Jeff.  It can be an elderly person, a grandparent that needs a hug, a homeless person, or someone going through chemo therapy.  And the acts of kindness are not restricted to hugs, but include words of encouragement, sometimes just acknowledging that you are there, being offered encourgement as Pastor Bob did this past Saturday night at church.  Jeff is not seeking praise, he has no thoughts of being the greatest.  He just wants to praise the Lord,to be loved, and to love.

The next time you, or I, start to think, let alone argue how great we are, think of the last time that you reached out and embraced one of these little ones, these children of God.

See how John Piper sums it up."Now comes the second thing Jesus said (v. 37), and it is utterly unexpected. We might have expected him to pick up on his point in verse 35 and apply it to children. Something like: "Now here's a child. The person in our society that men don't serve. The person men don't take the time for. The person you don't think is worth your time. Well I am showing you that children are worth your time. They are significant. When you receive one of them and serve one of them, you are serving a person just as valuable as the emperor of Rome........I am calling you to stop chasing the bubbles of man's praise and start pursuing God. Stop trying to receive praise in the service of men and starting receiving God in the service of children. What do you want? Do you want the fleeting praise of mortal men? Or do you want God?"

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Mark 9:33-37

 

So You Want First Place?

 

They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, "What were you discussing on the road?"

 

The silence was deafening — they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest.

 

He sat down and summoned the Twelve. "So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all."

 

He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, "Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me — God who sent me."

 

(from THE MESSAGE)