SCRIPTURE READING
“The Child in the Midst,” Matthew, 18:1–6, 10–14.
Christ commends the humility of the little child and the spirit of those who receive a child gladly, whether into the home, the school room, or into any part of their sphere of influence. There is no place in Christ’s Kingdom for the one who “does not want to be bothered with children” or who provokes, injures, neglects, despises, or causes one little one to sin.
“The feature of child-nature which forms the special point of comparison is its unpretentiousness. What children are unconsciously, that Jesus requires His disciples to be voluntarily and deliberately.” (A. B. Bruce.)