S – Scripture
- Matthew 19:13-15 (NLT):
“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’”
O – Observation
- Parents brought their little children to Jesus, seeking His blessing and prayer.
- The disciples initially rebuked the parents, perhaps thinking that Jesus had more important matters to attend to.
- Jesus responded by emphasizing the significance of children in the Kingdom of Heaven.
A – Application
Just as Jesus welcomed the children, we should embrace the young ones in our midst. As we serve in the kids’ program at the Ohana Retreat, let us remember that each child is especially precious to the Lord. What we tend to look down upon—the weak, the strange, the helpless—are the people God values the most. Also, today’s reading challenged me to have an open heart like a child for what the Lord wants to do during the Ohana Retreat in my heart.
P – Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to serve today with your love! Open my heart for what you want to teach me today. As I will interact with different people, help me to see in each one your precious child. Amen.
