"One such child..."

Every "blood-bought, born-again" child of God desires to bring honor to Christ by serving Him with the gifts and callings they are graced with. Some are graced with many, some with few, but however many or few, those gifts call out from within the spirit to be active, and when quenched it grieves the Holy Spirit.

I'm reminded when the disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest in Mark 9:34. Jesus overheard them and later asked them what they were talking about. They kept silent....

 So Jesus sat down, and called the twelve and said to them, 

“If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”   

And He took a child and placed him among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 

“Whoever welcomes 'one such child' like this in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”

 The Bible repeatedly and emphatically commands care for orphans, the fatherless, and vulnerable children— more than a hundred times! It is presented as a non-negotiable part of justice, pure religion, and reflecting God’s character. Neglecting them is equated with oppression and invites judgment, while caring for them brings blessing. This theme underscores humility and service, aligning with teachings like this one in Mark 9 (welcoming the child as welcoming Christ). 

In no way do I mean to diminish any act of kindness or charitable deed, gift or calling; whether it's sharing the gospel, caring for the widow, the downcast, the poor, educating the ignorant, medical aid to the afflicted, supporting those recovering from substance abuse or adverse childhood circumstances: or any of the acts of love described within the scriptures. But today, this morning, Jesus emphasized "One such child."