Children Need Unconditional Acceptance

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:14-15)
   Passage: Mark 9:33-37

        When the disciples tried to keep children away from Jesus, He got angry with them. He told them to let the children come, which meant He wanted to give them His attention. He also told the disciples not to hinder them, which indicated He didn’t want them to have any barriers put up which would keep them from coming to Him in the only way possible, which is by simple faith. One of the biggest barriers for people to put their trust in Jesus is the performance barrier of thinking that we have to earn God’s approval and do certain things to be accepted by Him.
Children need to know that God accepts them just like they are. They don’t have to perform and “be good” for God to love them and want them to know Him personally. All God requires is that a child or adult put faith in Jesus, which we often call the spiritual ABC’s. A - Admit that you are a sinner. B - Believe that Jesus died and paid the penalty for your sin, was buried and rose again. At the moment you exercise faith, the Holy Spirit comes into your life as the guarantee of heaven. Nothing you do will remove God’s Spirit and nothing you do will add more of God’s Spirit. Showing acceptance doesn’t affirm or ignore bad behavior. God doesn’t overlook our sin. Jesus paid the penalty for it and God shows His acceptance of everyone by offering salvation as a free gift through faith. When a children feel accepted as they are, they feel secure and can be led to receive Jesus because they know He loves them too.

‍Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)