Read Matthew 19:13-15
“You’re Not Bothering Me!”
Vs 13: Some children were brought to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them.
Vs 14: Jesus responded, “Let the children alone and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”
Vs 15: Then Jesus laid his hands on them and prayed.
What must have been going through the mind of the disciples that they assumed Jesus would not want to be “bothered” by the children’s presence? So much so that the disciples even rebuked them. How much do we have to “elevate ourselves” above others that we come to the conclusion that others aren’t good enough? Who is SO Unworthy that we wouldn’t dare take them before the throne of Jesus because Jesus would be “bothered” by them? Is there anyone?
In reality, no one is Worthy to come before the throne of Jesus. But God’s grace and his love is drawing all people to himself. He desires a relationship with all of us. He wants to save us from all sin. He wants to change our lives into newness. None of us are a bother to Jesus. There isn’t anyone we shouldn’t dare take before the throne of God.
Jesus is not bothered by you coming to him with all your struggles and failures and sin. He wants you to confess your sins! He wants to make you righteous. He wants you to share your struggles and insecurities. He wants to perfect you over time. He loves you.
Jesus is not bothered by those whom we bring to him in prayer. Therefore we should not be bothered by those who come to us (even though sometimes I am). Often, people are looking for someone to acknowledge them, see value and worth in them, give them attention, pray for them, invest into them, believe in them and see potential in them. Jesus was more than willing to stop whatever he was doing with the disciples so he could minister to the children. What are we called to stop doing so we can minister to someone put in our path, even the ones that “bother us?” Perhaps we all need to learn to come off our “high horse” so that we are not blind to the needs of others.
