Luke 18:15-17 for the Lord's Table
Jesus welcomed the children. He said: Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.
Babies and young children teach us many things. 1. It’s natural to be hungry. 2. It’s common to need rest. 3. It’s expected that they will communicate using cries, expressing frustrations and insecurities. 4. It’s to be expected that they will be bold around others, perhaps brash, adventuresome and uninhibited.
Whoever doe not receive the
You are children….be who you are. Are you hungry? Come and eat. Need rest? Come to the Table for refreshment. Frustrated, facing trials—come to Christ, He is our Host, and He is here to minister with food and drink.
Who is admitted to the Lord’s Table? Those who have been baptized, those who are under the care of local elders or the care of a church’s leadership—that means that you and they have spoken together, and you have a credible testimony of faith that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. If so, come today, and receive nourishment. If you have not been baptized; if you are not under the care of local elders or local church leadership, and there’s no knowledge about your spiritual condition or interests, then wait; speak to an elder first before partaking today. Or maybe right now, you’re being a rebellious child. It is my solemn duty to warn the disobedient, the scandalous, and those who secretly live in unrepentant sin, not to approach the Table lest they partake unworthily, not discerning the Lord’s body, and so eat and drink condemnation to themselves.
You see, the Bible tells us to examine ourselves, so that we might partake of the Lord being the children he has made us to be. Jesus said: receive the kingdom, enter into it being a child.
G. Mark Sumpter
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