Mark 10:13-16 He hugged the children
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 6, 2018, Mark 10:13-16
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Some people were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. When Jesus saw this, he became furious and told them, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. I tell you with certainty, whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” Then after he had hugged the children, he tenderly blessed them as he laid his hands on them.
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) People would bring children to rabbis to have them blessed. I heard this in a sermon somewhere, so I’m not sure of the validity. It’s human nature for a mother or father to want their children to receive God’s blessing, so I think it is true. However, the disciples did not view this act as important enough to take up Jesus’ busy time. They screened the people who got access to Jesus. There were probably people with get-rich quick schemes and frivolous requests who they had also turned away. Here, they showed a lack of discernment of their Master. They thought that blessing a child was not important enough to bother Jesus while Jesus viewed it as one of the most important jobs that He did.
Jesus was not just displeased like the KJV says; He was furious/indignant. The disciples were probably puzzled by His wrath. They needed to change their priorities. Jesus had already warned them in Capernaum at Peter’s house before they came south that whoever caused a child to sin was in big trouble and that the kingdom of heaven was for children. “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” (Mark 9:42). He had told them that welcoming a child to Jesus was like welcoming Jesus Himself. “Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He took him in his arms and told them, “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:36-37). They should have understood the lesson already, but it had gotten lost in the busyness of life. Now, they are forcibly reminded that Jesus values children more than the disciples thought was good.
Then Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is composed of people who are childlike. He is telling the disciples to not only welcome children to Jesus’ presence, but also to become like children themselves. Here He is reminding them of His lesson that the first would be last and that they needed to be servants not masters.
(Application) To receive the kingdom of God like little children is to have a childlike faith in God as their father. Children have total trust in their father to provide for them. They usually obey him. Children don’t use sophistry to try to justify themselves. They do not have the self-defense mechanisms that we adults develop. They view the world with an intensity and curiosity and focus that does not allow for boredom. We must receive the kingdom of God through total trust and confidence in His love for us. In the Bible, everything is about faith, hope, and love according to Paul. I usually would say it is all about faith and love.
(Revelation of God) Jesus was physically affectionate. He hugged the children and tenderly blessed them. He did not hurry through the process but spent time with each one. They understood that He thought they were important and enjoyed them. This is how Jesus treats us also. He hugs us and is tender with us and blesses us with good things. He wants to spend time with me. I’m the one who gets distracted and rushes through that time. He thinks that I am important. He enjoys me. That last idea is hard for me to comprehend. Jesus enjoys me? It goes back to easily accepting that God loves us, but not being sure if He likes us.
(Prayer) I pray to accept You as a little child with trust, love, and delight. I pray to trust that You love and like me as Your own dear child. I pray to bring my hurts and regrets to You so that I do not develop a calloused view of life but instead keep a childlike wonder.