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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
Ever since I was thirteen I have had the opportunity to work with children and youth. I have been told to make that distinction since the older children, ages 13 to 18, don't like being called children but are amicable to being called youth. I have enjoyed working with the younger ages a little more in recent years because of one simple fact. The younger the child, the less they have, or have not, been taught. The more open they are to receive the discipline of discipleship.
The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) record the presentation of children to Jesus for His blessing. The parents of these children wanted Jesus to lay His hands on them and pray for them. His disciples were not quite full in their understanding of Jesus' purpose so they tried to prevent the parents from presenting their children even to the point of being critical of the parents for having the audacity to interrupt Jesus during a rather lengthy teaching session.
Jesus' response was one for the ages. "Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14 Mark takes Jesus' comment a little further as he adds Jesus' words, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." Mark 10:15 Luke's account (Luke 18:16, 17) is pretty much identical to that of Mark. Why should adults come as little children? Little children don't know everything and know they don't. They are teachable.
They respond to loving discipline. Before you read correction into that word discipline please understand that correction only follows when teaching is ignored. Both are discipline. As for the correction standpoint God is plain spoken. "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly." Proverbs 13:24 "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." Hebrews 12:7, 8
The younger a child when the church gets them the greater chance we have to teach that child the simple disciplines that make a child become a blessing as an adult. Leave a child to their own devices and the child will become selfish and unruly. However, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 That young child is open to the boundaries of decency and the love of God. They become what God can make them become as we apply His love and grace to their lives.
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...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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