Love and Let Love

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

LOVE AND LET LOVE

Matt 18:5-6

5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 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 to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

NIV

This is the rest of the story, as it were, page two. Again, Jesus is not talking about children as in small human beings born from the will of parents. These are those who have changed, who have turned around and become like a child, being completely dependent on Jesus, rather than having that independent, self-reliant adult thinking. So, then when we welcome a person of faith, one who has that child-like faith, we welcome Jesus into our midst. Again, having been taught most of our growing up years that we should be independent and strike out on our own, relying on our abilities and skills to build a life for ourselves, making our mark on the world, it is difficult, at times, to think like a child. However, even if we have not yet made the change have that child-like faith, being humble and completely dependent on Jesus for every aspect of our life, we must love and accept those who have changed and become like a child. We cannot make fun of them or think poorly about them because of the way they think and the complete faith they have in Jesus. What can happen is that some, and maybe even many in the church are living too much as adults, thinking like adults, looking to their education, their skills, their wealth, and cannot see that child-like believer as fully grown in Christ, not fully understanding all the nuances of the Christian life. However, it may even be worse as they are so close to the world, they do not even see faith as being needed as a child has in their parents, and thus this not welcoming carries the meaning of not recognizing their need for that kind of faith. This woe that Jesus mentions is serious, as if anyone stands in the way, or causes this believer with child-like faith to stumble by belittling or hindering their faith in any way, the result is not good for them. Here is where that golden rule comes into play doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. In other words, live and let live, and love and let love.