13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10
Questions for Reflection:
As you think about your childhood, were there any people that helped you see Jesus, understand Him or in some sense brought your to Him? If so who were they?
What about when you were a teenager/young adult? Was there anyone that used by God to bring you closer to Jesus? If not ..... when did someone enter your life to help you see Jesus? Who were they?
How does it help you to relax with Jesus knowing He wants us to come to Him as children - helpless and filled with "need"?
Prayer of the Week:
My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive Your life and Your love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and God and give every aspect and dimension of my life – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will – to You and You alone. I ask Your Holy Spirit to restore me in You, renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.
Jesus, union with You in every dimension of my life and through You, union with my true Father in heaven is of pivotal importance to me today. I may feel like there are many other things that are “more important” in this moment but I step out in faith and resolve that being synced up in union with You is the most important step to take. The quality of our connection profoundly affects every other aspect of my life. I now receive You Jesus as my Lord, Leader, Savior and Lover of my soul. I surrender to you and ask that You apply to me all the work and triumph of Your cross, death and sacrifice for me as well as Your life resurrection and ascension. I confess my sin and brokenness to You now and receive Your complete and total forgiveness, (You my take a few moments to confess any sin and soul brokenness that is on your heart right now and receive complete forgiveness.)
Jesus I want to live the moments of this day reconciled to my Father in heaven and in synced up union with You and the Holy Spirit.
I praise You Jesus for friends that I trust will bring me to You. I thank you for some of them now and mention them by name (just mention who comes to mind by name.) I thank you for the friends, some of which I may not know, who provided this I Belong reading, devotion and prayer because they are friends who bring friends to Jesus. Jesus, I also thank you for all opportunities I get to bring friends to You in the course of everyday life. I ask Your kingdom reign to come over every dimension of my life so that I might see and seize opportunities to help people connect with You ... to love people in such a way that encountering me helps them encounter You.
I specifically pray for all Grow Groups at Point of Grace, those that exist and those You desire to come into existence, that they might be places where friends bring friends to Jesus in real and ever so gracious and effective ways. I love You Jesus and invite you in to every aspect and movement of my being as I live this day in Your name!
Amen
