The “right” answer to whether we keep children from Jesus is not always the true answer. It is helpful to remember the difference between Jesus and religious activities. We ought to be especially careful not to tempt children to sin and not to introduce new sins into their lives. (Matthew 18:6) We may not all be called to children's ministry, but we are all called to love our neighbors as ourselves (including children), and to stay out of the way when others are laboring to bring them to Jesus.

Perhaps the disciples had a mental picture of what ministry should look like. When what they saw did not fit their mental picture, they began rebuking people. What is your mental picture of what ministry should look like? Will you be comfortable in the moment if the Holy Spirit leads others to do things that do not fit your preconceived notions? We do well to distinguish between how we think things “ought to be” from what the Bible actually says. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I confess I have often been like the disciples above – a stumbling block to children coming to Jesus. O God! Forgive me. Thank You that You are opening my eyes. Help me to see clearly all the religious and “sophisticated” things I do that present stumbling blocks to little children. Keep me from frustration with children and keep me from temptation to make disciples more like myself than like Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

It may take more time and effort than we thought to be like Jesus to children. It may seem to keep us from our other responsibilities. Further, children need prayer, not just physical provision. Jesus made that clear in today’s verse. Wisdom and grace are required, but be encouraged that such time is not wasted. Jesus said, “Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)