kingdom kids

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:16

I have had between thirteen and eighteen four year-olds skittering around me all week during VBS.

I am a little tired, to say the least.

Today I will have the privilege of sharing the gospel with all of the children who have been brought to our church all week. Some parents probably sign up for VBS because they know how fun it is. Others might just want to find an activity to occupy their children as the long summer dwindles to a close. A good many parents drop their children off in faith, praying that the message of Jesus will grow in their hearts.

To all of the parents, with all my heart, I want to say, “Thank you.“

They have not kept their little ones away from Jesus. Nor have these parents kept us from the chance of seeing the Kingdom of God through the exuberance, love, and joy of these little ones.

Today, when I tell the story of the God who made them, loves them, and has chosen them, I will be rejoicing. The gift of God’s salvation came to me long after my childhood. Long after wounds of my own cut me deeply, I learned that God had better news for me than I had heard before.

Children’s ministry gives us the chance to reach out to God’s children before the pain of poor choices and a broken world warps their hearts. In them I see
The Kingdom coming as it is meant to come: full of grace and truth.

I am praying that the seeds planted this week will grow in the coming days and weeks, and that these little people will embrace the great plans God has for them.

I am so thankful that His plans for me includes them. There is simply no greater joy than the exhausting labor of children’s ministry.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. -1 Peter 2:9