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Luke 18 15-17 TO RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A LITTLE CHILD 05 Set apart for God
📖 Luke 18:15-17
27Sep2020 - *Set apart for God* - _Luke 18:15-17_ - TO RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A LITTLE CHILD 4 – Bible reading: _I Peter 1:13-16_
_Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. (17) Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."_
One more crucial matter in relation to children that the word of God provides for us is the matter of the obedience of children. We see this in the following passages.
_Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (2) "HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER," which is the first commandment with promise: (3) "THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU AND YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH." Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord._
In Ephesians, children are to obey their parents in the Lord and in Colossians the instruction is to obey their parents in all things. If we were to combine the meaning from both the passages, what would we receive? Children are to obey their parents in all things and all things are in the Lord.
Children will profit a blessing when they obey. Hence, we as parents and adults must enable children to obey for this will benefit them.
Children cannot obey unless instruction and teaching are provided in all things, which are in the Lord. We cannot focus on the obedience of children alone but we must emphasise the importance of teaching and instruction that needs to be provided by parents, caregivers and society as a whole, for children to obey.
Let us consider the obedience of our Lord. _Luke 2:51-52 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. (52) And Jesus increased in *wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men*._
Jesus increased in all of these four areas, _wisdom, stature, favour with God and favour with men_. This happened because He was subject to His parents. He was subject to His parents because His parents provided Him teaching and instruction in all of these four areas, for Him to obey and thereby increase and develop in these areas.
Let us deliberate on each of these four areas of the development of the child.
1. Wisdom, includes gaining knowledge in all possible fields and in using this knowledge for the common good of society under the fear of God. This truly drives us to the purpose of education, which we have unfortunately reduced to a means for financial wellbeing. The purpose of education must be seen as a small but significant part in gaining wisdom.
2. Stature is generally related to the physical development of the child but also includes good habits, manners, behaviour, courtesies, etiquettes and such.
3. Favour with God is the fear of God that comes from humility before God resulting in obedience to His word/ways.
4. Favour with men, which is humility before society resulting in serving people.
Jesus was subject to His parents for Him to increase in all of the above four areas since instruction and teaching was provided. It has been proven that obedience takes place when it comes along with the demonstration. Demonstrated teaching is necessary for children to obey.
Children need to be taught to obey so that they will be set apart for God. _I Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (14) as *obedient children*, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; (15) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."_
We are not ignorant of the ways of the evil one and he will use every means against us, to bring us back to our former lusts. As obedient children, we are to be set apart for God.
*Thought to ponder*
```Obedience to the Lord is the means by which we express our love for Him.```
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