Tuesday after the Third Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on July 5, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 10:13-16 (NKJV)
10:13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Devotion
As we are brought to the Kingdom of God by His Spirit through faith, we are taught to say “our Father…” Thus, throughout Scripture the Lord uses the image of children and fathers to teach us about His benevolent will toward man. Deut. 6:7 commands that fathers should diligently teach God’s Word to their children. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus compares the good gifts of earthly fathers to the greater gifts of the Heavenly Father (Matthew 7:11). John 8 shows our Savior trying to correct the misconceptions of the faithless Jews about Abraham as He also teaches them about the one true Father.
In the Small Catechism, Luther shows that the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer is the clear application of our Lords’ words in today’s reading. Where there is good relationship between children and fathers, the children “entreat their affectionate parents” with all cheerfulness and confidence. Christ shows us that the children of God’s Kingdom have that same humble joy and trust toward our Lord, even as we also fear and love Him!
The devil and world encourage our flesh’s petulance and self-will. Yet, even in worldly matters it is clear that children (and adults!) who act with such lack of humility are not on a good path. For this reason, faithful parents and masters also discipline those under their care, following Christ’s example who both blesses His little ones and also corrects and trains them in the way of His righteousness.
Prayer: O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without Whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy; that Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
