Devotionals

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF A JERK

by Jason Barnett 
02/09/17
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Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”  MATTHEW 19:14 (NKJV)

 All eyes were locked on me. A hush had fallen over the youth group, the silence so pure that a palpable pulse could be felt as hearts stirred. As I gathered the words swirling in my soul a little blur crawled across my feet and towards the exit. A brief moment later a loud thud echoed through the sanctuary, followed by thunderous laughter. Ben, my one-year-old son, had crawled face first into the glass door.

Turning my attention back to the students, they were all focused on Ben. Fearing the intimacy of the moment was lost I opened my mouth, and bellowed out, “Get him out of here.” As the words rolled off my tongue a wave of regret rushed over me and my wife’s eyes heaved daggers as she carried Ben off to the nursery. The intimacy of the moment strayed not because of Ben’s innocent mishap, but by my own reaction.

You may think there was nothing wrong with the way that was handled. Most churches provide a nursery and a children’s class to free the parents of distraction.  But we forget that we live in a world that often obligates parents to separate from their kids, so why do we think it is necessary at church? Is the Spirit of God so sensitive that He cannot work in the presence of a screaming baby?

While separation has its purposes, I think this has a greater potential of shutting the door on the movement of the Spirit. One service I observed a gentleman and his toddler who visited a church for the first time. Upon arrival he was told his daughter had to be in the nursery. The man complied even though his little girl was clearly upset. Once the service started she reached full-blown panic, forcing the volunteers to get dad. He came and brought her into the service, which immediately calmed her down. The little girl was not making a peep, but the pastor insisted the girl had to go back into the nursery; this time accompanied by dad. To my knowledge neither the man, nor the little girl has ever been back. Who was more at fault for blocking the Spirit, the pastor or the little girl?

The moving of the Spirit does not always comply with the rigid structure of our service, but some times in the freeness of little ones. When the moment is too somber, God uses the laughter of children to remind us not to take life too seriously. Perhaps we all need to experience God with the laxity of a toddler who kicks off her outfit and streaks the aisles. Let us lay aside dignity in exchange for the foolishness of children so we can have the joy of hearing Jesus say, “let my children come to me.”