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Disregarding, demeaning or devaluing children destroys your soul. If you don’t believe me, consider Jesus’ encounter with children in Mark 10:13-16.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

Crowds of people were attracted to Jesus. And there was something about him that stirred them to bringing their children to him. Now Jesus was a busy man, and his disciples were protective of their master, not wanting pesky distractions to get in the way of his important work. So naturally, they assumed children couldn’t possibly be on Jesus’ agenda. Wow, were they wrong, or what? Check out Jesus’ response,

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

The word indignant is a feeling of intense displeasure toward what is unjust and insulting. Jesus was personally and gravely insulted. Jesus considered this to be a serious injustice not merely an inadequate way of thinking. God is just. Injustice, or sin, deserves punishment or just consequence. To justify is to clear of guilt and to remove the deserved punishment. When Jesus was indignant, he was essentially showing the severity of what happens when people push children away. Those people are at serious risk of missing the kingdom of God-indeed of losing their soul. To be justified, we must have faith like a child. Jesus then goes on and reinforces just how serious he is,

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

To disregard children is to disregard the heart of God. Children are a reminder to freely cling to our Father. Unless we value children as God does, we won’t have the proper understanding that brings us to eternal joy in the family of God as his beloved children.

If that’s not powerful enough, then include orphaned and destitute children into your thinking. The horrors children face each day is despicable. Even worse is the fact that people everywhere turn a blind eye and do nothing to help. Yes, disregarding children destroys your soul.

REGARDING CHILDREN AS JESUS DOES SAVES YOUR SOUL!

Have you blessed a child lately?