The Work Of Children

We began by stating that this was a children’s hymn. However, children make up a wide cross-section of the people called children. This is what I mean. You speak of a person who is 1 year old, as a child, a little child, but nonetheless a child. You refer to a 5 year old, as a child. You are speaking about a 10 year old and still you use the word child. You may qualify it and speak of an older child, or a younger child, but nevertheless, a child.

We are going to stick with Jesus and how He used little children in His teaching ministry. It is the same child whom the Spirit is using to bring us to unfathomable truth about the work of children in Him.

Jesus has been asked by the disciples about who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. In responding, Jesus taught a most visually profound, object lesson. He called, not just a child, but a little child to Him, and had that child stand among them all. This action, gives us some important information on the little child. He or she, was a child who was able to stand up, without support and without falling back down. We can quickly infer that this little child is capable of walking.

Of noticeable interest also, is the fact that Jesus uses one little child, to speak of all little children. I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18: 3b - 6.

It is from this showing that these living facts have been revealed to us. How can we not bow at the feet of our Lord and Master, in utter surrendered thankfulness and light?  What is the work of children?

The work of little children is in being themselves.  

Our first observation is that to answer an adult question, Jesus simply chose a child. Any little child would do. Think seriously about this. Matthew, never mentioned anything about Jesus making distinctions in the kind of little child He called. Jesus never asked for or looked for a child who was from:-

A Jewish or Gentile background.

A rich or poor household.

A well-read and educated family.

Well-known or not well-known parents.

All Matthew records for us of Jesus, is that He called a little child and had him stand among them. Matthew 18: 2

The little child simply had to be himself – a little child.

The work of little children is in modelling humility.

Is it not true that little children are employed to be models of all kinds of children’s things? They model children’s shoes, underwear, special outfits, and even children’s foods. Children are never used to model adult clothing, or any such like. Even to speak this, sounds and looks most ridiculous. In our second observation however, Jesus dares to be radically different, for the things of heaven are not as the things of earth. In His heavenly wisdom, Jesus has before us a child, a little child at that, whom He uses as His model. This little child, representing all little children, is being used by Jesus to model the clothes which are necessary to be worn, if one is to enter the kingdom of heaven. One has to change and be clothed in humility. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Little children in the eyes of our Lord, are humble and so they model who they are to Jesus’ delight. 

Are these not wonderfully fascinating? Don’t you just have to bow to the unsurpassed wisdom of Jesus? Who but our Lord will bring such learning to us? Who is indeed a Teacher of Teachers, a Revealer of Revealers, but God, the Holy Spirit? He has been sent to us, to teach us all things and to lead us into all truth.

Thank You Holy Spirit. Amen!