Psalms 46-KJV

Psalm 46

¹God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

²Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

³Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

⁶The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

⁷The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

⁸Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

⁹He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

¹⁰Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

¹¹The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

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Welcoming Children by Mark D. Roberts

Luke 18:15-17

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the
children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those
who are like these children.”

Luke 18:16

During my tenure as Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church, I often
thought of stories like the one we are reading today. My role as pastor was
primarily focused on the adults in the church and community. We had excellent
staff members and volunteer leaders who devoted their time to children and
youth. Yet, I believe that, as pastor of the whole church, I needed also to
communicate the love of Christ to those who weren’t yet “grown ups.”

Sometimes my availability to children took unexpected turns. One Sunday
morning, for example, it was time for the passing of the peace, an occasion for
people to share with each other the peace of Christ. As soon as people started
to greet each other, a young boy in the congregation raced forward to talk with
me. “Pastor Mark, Pastor Mark,” he called in a loud voice, “I have to talk with
you.”
“What is it, Eric?” I asked, fearing that something was terribly wrong. “Where
did Satan come from?” he spouted as if it were the most urgent matter in the
world.

At this point, his embarrassed parents reached Eric, apologizing repeatedly
for his intrusion into my “adult time.” Remembering Jesus, I told them not to
worry. I explained to Eric that I would be glad to talk with him about where
Satan came from, but that would have to wait until after the service.

A couple of days later, Eric and his mother came to visit me. She explained
that Eric had been worrying for weeks about Satan and his origin. At dinner one
night, she and her husband said to Eric, “You should ask Pastor Mark about
this.” Eric took this to mean “Ask Pastor Mark the next time you see him,” which
happened to be in the middle of the recent worship service.

I have to chuckle when I remember this story. But I also feel grateful. I’m
glad that Eric’s parents saw me as Eric’s pastor and that they assumed I would
be happy to talk with Eric. I’m also thankful for the example of Jesus in the
Gospels, who reminds us all—not just pastors—that children matter, that they
deserve our respect and care, and that the kingdom of God belongs to children
and others who simply trust God and approach him with childlike humility and
openness.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: What memories do you have
of being a child in a Christian community? Did you feel as if you mattered? In
what ways are you able to imitate the example of Jesus in the way you relate to
children?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for letting the children come
to you. Thank you for honoring children and welcoming them. Thank you for
setting an example for all of us “grown ups.” May we imitate you in our
families, neighborhoods, communities, and churches. May we welcome children in
your name.

Thank you for receiving me as a child. How glad I am that I don’t have to
figure it all out in order to enter the kingdom. When I trust you, simply and
openly, you receive me much as you once received little children. What a
precious gift this is! Amen.

http://www.thehighcalling.org/reflection/welcoming-children