A couple of months ago we attended the One Thing Conference in Kansas City. It’s an exciting four days of worship, ministry and powerful messages from the heart of the Father. During this conference I stood in line with my littles to get them a picture with Jaye Thomas. It seemed like forever, the line was super long. They Love Jaye Thomas. Jaye is a pretty famous, extremely accomplished musician and vocalist, and he is a very anointed worship leader. On another day I stood in line again with them so they could get a picture with Jon Thurlow. Wow, meeting famous people and getting a selfie with them. Awesome.
I recently was praying and doing some studying in the prayer room, on the family and was in Matthew 19, reading Jesus words about marriage and divorce and children. I quickly brushed by the passage where the people brought their children to Jesus that He might touch them and the disciples rebuked them and said ““Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
I brushed right past the thoughts on those parents taking their children to see Jesus. I always seemed to treat this moment in Jesus ministry like I was treating the standing in line to have my children meet Jaye Thomas or Jon Thurlow. Parents bringing their kids to the famous person so they could have the memory of meeting Jesus. He was this amazing teacher who held the attention of multitudes for days on end and did amazing things, like feeding the five thousand. Jesus was really famous in his day. So I just brushed right by the thought of these parents and these kids and jumped right to Jesus telling us the importance of children and childlike faith. It was there, as I did and as we often time do, just reading right past such an important key; it was there that the Holy Spirit whispe
red to me “they didn’t take their children to Jesus because he was famous, they took their children to Jesus so He could pray and intercede for them”. In that moment these words leapt off the page to me “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.” I was convicted of my oft superficial treatment of God’s word when such significance and depth are there. Yes we should hear Jesus words that the kingdom of heaven is made for children too, and they have equal share in what God is doing in His kingdom, and yes we need to have child like faith and trust as we live our lives…but we should not overlook the significance of these parents who knew that the most important thing they could do was bring their children before the King of Kings, not for His fame but for His prayer. They didn’t want the equivalence of a Jesus selfie, their desire was Jesus might intercede for their children. Moms and dads one of the most significant things you can do now as parents is to bring your children to Jesus in prayer for He sits at the right hand of the Father continually making intercession for us (See Hebrews 7 and Romans 8). I picture this exchange when I am praying for my kids: (Picture Jesus sitting next to Father God) “Hey Papa, Carl is praying for his kids. You know Carl is one that I love, and I love his kids too. Papa can you stretch out your hand and touch his kids for me, they are my beloved.” I can picture Jesus bringing every need, every desire that I share with Him to Abba Father.
Oh I so want to be like these parents in Matthew 19, I want to be a parent who brings my kiddos (even my older ones) to Jesus and ask Him to impact their lives. I love that I can trust that when I do Jesus intercedes on their behalf. Moms, Dads, Grandmothers and Grandfathers would you join me in taking up the standard set by these parents in Matthew 19 and commit to bringing your children and grandchildren to Jesus through prayer? I believe there is nothing greater that you can do for your children than praying for them.