Citizens

Matthew 19:13-14

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'" (Matthew 19:14).

The citizens only line at any international airport passport control moves quickly. Immigration officials only ask a few questions of their own citizens. Why should they? The citizens are coming home.

When Jesus rebuked the disciples for sending the children away from him, he did so because "The kingdom of heaven belonged to [children] (Matthew 19:13). Children are the rightful citizens of God's kingdom. They get to stand in the fast line. They get the privileges of belonging to God's kingdom.

I once had an older gentleman in an ESL writing class who was just "a student". He was pleasant, at times funny and other times a little frustrating. One day I learned that he was an important official in his home country's government. I was a little surprised and regretted not treating him with a little more dignity. As a teacher, I never know who is really sitting in my classroom. Children are the same way. Yes, this child is just a child--but do I really know what position she holds in God's kingdom?