Child in Your arms- Ryan Stevenson
Listen to the link above, then read on.
Mark 9:36-37 says, "He took a little child whom He placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, He said to them, 'Whosoever welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me'."
This is a story that we all know. And as we read through the gospels, Jesus talks multiple times about needing to have faith like a child and taking care of children. But it is the child in the verses above that I would like to touch on.
We do not know where the child came from. We do not know their name or what nationality they were. We can guess that they were part of the crowd that was always following Jesus, but that is not stated. It is also not known if they knew Jesus. But the trust that this child shows is astonishing.
Just think about being small, called into a group of grown men, to then not only be talked to, but you are picked up and held in the arms of a stranger. That would be scary. I am now feeling self-conscience just thinking about that. But the Word does not say that the child ran away in fear, or did not come when called because of distrust.
I believe that this child came in perfect trust and possibly even longed for the comfort and closeness of being personally held by the Savior. I long for that also.
Jesus also states in the next chapter of Mark that, "whosoever does not accept the kingdom of heaven like a child will never enter it." Do you remember accepting something with perfect trust and certainty just because someone told you something? That is what Jesus is saying here. We have to be comfortable trusting Him completely.
We have to be a child in His arms.
