Day 12 - Tuesday
Bible Verses: Mark 10:13-16
Spark Bible: Jesus Blesses the Children (p.328)
Devotion: Have you ever been told that you couldn’t do something? It is a really bad feeling! I remember when I was younger, I really wanted to go on a ride at Disney World… but I was 3 inches too short for the height requirement. I tried to stretch my neck and head upwards, tried to get on tip-toes, and thought about wearing taller shoes – but nothing worked. The person who worked at the ride told me that I’d just have to wait a year.
In this passage, the disciples are telling children that they shouldn’t be bothering Jesus. “He’s doing really serious work”, they think. “He doesn’t have any time to play with children”. Can you imagine how sad some of those kids were when they heard the disciples being mean? Think about all of the times that you’ve been told ‘no’ when you’ve really wanted to do something.
To the disciples’ surprise, though, Jesus says that children are really important to him. Jesus is always really good at welcoming people that other people sometimes don’t want around – think about all of the different stories of him eating with people who no one else wanted to eat with, or being friends with people who were lonely. In welcoming all children, Jesus was showing that there aren’t any height requirements to following him – we can each be disciples!
Reflection: What are some ways that we can welcome people like Jesus?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for not having any height requirements on following you. You love all people, so help us to love all people too. Amen.
Spark Bible: Jesus Blesses the Children (p.328)
Devotion: Have you ever been told that you couldn’t do something? It is a really bad feeling! I remember when I was younger, I really wanted to go on a ride at Disney World… but I was 3 inches too short for the height requirement. I tried to stretch my neck and head upwards, tried to get on tip-toes, and thought about wearing taller shoes – but nothing worked. The person who worked at the ride told me that I’d just have to wait a year.
In this passage, the disciples are telling children that they shouldn’t be bothering Jesus. “He’s doing really serious work”, they think. “He doesn’t have any time to play with children”. Can you imagine how sad some of those kids were when they heard the disciples being mean? Think about all of the times that you’ve been told ‘no’ when you’ve really wanted to do something.
To the disciples’ surprise, though, Jesus says that children are really important to him. Jesus is always really good at welcoming people that other people sometimes don’t want around – think about all of the different stories of him eating with people who no one else wanted to eat with, or being friends with people who were lonely. In welcoming all children, Jesus was showing that there aren’t any height requirements to following him – we can each be disciples!
Reflection: What are some ways that we can welcome people like Jesus?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for not having any height requirements on following you. You love all people, so help us to love all people too. Amen.