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Matthew 19: Three Tense Topics of Life

Marriage…Family…Money.  What are your basic, everyday conversations about?  If I were to have my guess, it probably would come down to those three topics much of the time.  But do we ever get down past the superficial surface when we discuss these issues.  Matthew 19 records how Jesus dug deep, perhaps deeper than some might like, on these everyday topics of life (both in his time and ours).  My intention today (tonight actually) is not to deal with all three in my blog entry, but it is to discuss a little bit more the topic that Matthew covers the least in verse length (this doesn‘t mean I think it is least important). 

That topic is our families.  As the advancements and technology of our society have made our lives more fast-paced and hectic, our families have transformed and adapted with them.  We see both parents working outside of the home more than before.  That means childcare--whether it is through a provider, grandparent(s), or friend.  As children reach school age it is “off to this…off to that” (perhaps with multiple children at the same time).  At this stage of family, it is very unlikely that our children are left behind or ignored.  Quite the opposite is true!  We bend over backwards for our young kids.  We do anything for them as parents, right?  But, it seems to me that in our society, one aspect of the family component is all to often left behind and ignored.  Jesus addresses this with his disciples and with us today (19:13-15).  The spiritual welfare of little children, babies as it says in Luke (Lk 18:15-17), and for that matter bigger kids, is vitally important to Jesus and should be for all parents.  He says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (v14).  How do little children, even babies, possess God’s kingdom?  For many babies it is through the water and Word of God in baptism.  There in baptism babies, little children, big kids, and adults are made children of God.  There God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ washes away sin.  There you are made holy through the Holy Spirit as he creates faith in them.  There they are taken up in Jesus’ arms and blessed. 

Whether it is our babies, little toddlers, or school children, Jesus urges us to bring them to him to hear his good news in Word and sacrament-the kingdom of God belongs to them. 

Thank God for the blessing of family.  Through my family (both immediate and extended)  I not only learned lessons for life, I learned lessons for eternal life.  Through my parents and grandparents I learned to see Jesus!  They let me see that he is my Shepherd and I'm his "little lamb."  They let me see that he is the "Lamb of God" who takes the world's sins away-even mine.  They let me see that he is the "Resurrection and the Life," and that I have that sure because God has given me faith in him.  May God’s encouragement in his Word cause you to bring your children to him again and again to see Jesus too!  Thank be to God!