When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep” (John 21:15-16).
In this famous passage Peter is told to do two things in a particular order--feed lambs and tend sheep.
What is a lamb? Answer: A Child
What is a sheep? Answer: An Adult
Jesus spoke to us very pointedly regarding children.
Matt. 18:5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matt. 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish
Jesus even points out that the angels over-watching children, cut to the front of the line so to speak, to the Father. He also makes it clear that he leaves the 99 sheep to pursue the one in the context of children. We love to apply this verse to wandering drunken prodigals, or the girl who moves in with her boyfriend, which is all applicable, but the immediate context of Matthew 18 is all about children.
It always grieves me when people ask me how many "real people" are coming to church referring to adults. I guess kids don't count--they aren't quite souls yet. We aren't seeking out "kid's helpers" we are looking for people longing to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ in making disciples--disciples in particular the Lord is very, very, concerned about. Yes, the church should be all about their kids. God also makes it very clear that the ultimate place of ministering to our kids is in our own homes. We don't take them to church with the hope that the church gathering will provide for my lack of teaching my children at home.
Ask parents what they want most for their children and the garden variety of sadly Christians, and non-Christians will answer, "a good education". We are more interested in them making the grade rather than knowing Jesus. In fact that is exactly what George Barna found when he interviewed Christians and non-Christian parents. The number one goal they had for their children was a good education, or achievements athletically. Our primary goal for our children is that they walk with the Lord. If I can teach my kids how to keep their eye on the ball but fail to teach them to keep their eyes on Christ, I have failed as a father. God has commanded fathers,
Deut. 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Here are some tips when it comes to sharing with your kids as you sit in your house, walk by the way, lying down, and rising........
1. Grab "Jesus Story Book Bible" and read it for your own good. Get excited about it and start reading it out loud and watch as little ones drop what they're doing to drink in your excitement.
2. Crank up the stereo for fun at night before bed (with some rockin' worship music-David Crowder etc.) and explain how God created music, and fun, and dancing--then dance with them. I can't dance, so dancing at our house looks like 4 white boys running around in circles colliding with each other like in a mosh pit.
3. On your walks, point out God's beauty in creation, and allow yourself to be transformed as you share with them how cool it is that God in his infinite wisdom has made certain leaves to be fuzzy.
4. Lay them down at night, and pray over them and sing songs with them that they can learn. Listen to them--listen to their hearts.
5. Confess to them your sin when you lose your cool with them, let them see you are in need of Jesus.
6. Give them loving affections and then tell them Jesus loves them far more than mommy/daddy ever can
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