Bloghardt's Reflector

Yes, most of them think they have no sins. We parents know they are far from sinless. But, whatever sins they do have, they know for certain Jesus took care of them all.

So.. skipping, singing, laughing, joking, playing, they go about life. They climbing trees, grab the cat by his tail, and chase dogs around. As if God made the trees, the cat, and dog just for them. Of course, He did. That's what faith says.

Then, they sing hymns, as if they are going to win American Idol when they grow up – even when they are terribly off key. Each little one the center of the Father's attention. He even gives every little one an angel. That's what Jesus says.

And they play without a care in the world about what they will eat, what they will drink, and wear. And what the Father misses, there is jolly old St. Nicholas on Christmas.

And heaven is their's because of Jesus. No doubting, firmly believing. After all, “I am Jesus little lamb, ever glad at I am, for my shepherd gentle guides me, knows my needs and well provides me, loves me every day the same, even calls me by my name.”

That faith, that Jesus-is-completely-for-me-faith, is the answer to the who's the greatest in the kingdom of God question. A life spent singing, worshiping, and playing in the waters of your Baptism. Jesus for me. That's heaven!

Imagine actually believing just once that because you are baptized into Christ, you are a child. All because Jesus took His holy life and bitter sufferings and death and washed your sins away.

The children do! That's why they sing. “I am baptized happy day! All my sins were washed away! God looked down on me and smiled. I became His own dear child...”

And that's not say that Baptism is a work that we do that gets salvation for us. Only an adult would come up that! Baptism delivers Jesus to us! That's why Baptism saves.

Saved in that Baptismal flood! That's you. Forgiven, despite you. Only in Jesus. Forgiven. Heaven is yours in Christ.

Do you believe that with all your heart? And if you do believe, why do you live as if you don't? Where's your joy? The skip in your step? Where's the playing around like a child?

You've outgrown that, haven't you? You are more important. More intelligent. Got it all figured out. Been a Lutheran all your life. I mean, after all, if anyone is going to heaven, it has to be you? Right?

But, the sad thing is, when the Lord talks about going to get lost Ones and leaving the ninety-nine behind, he isn't talking about leaving us behind and going to get someone who doesn't believe.

No, dear sheep, Jesus is talking about leaving the children and talking about going to get.... us! We are the one that has strayed!

Each of us go our own way. We.. with all our hateful comments, our slandering, our backbiting. All our thinking ourselves most important. The things we do, against each other. People with sins don't like the people who seem so holy and the people who think themselves so righteous look down on those who clearly aren't.

All the while, we think that our sins aren't that important. I mean, really, it's not like we murdered anyone.

But, these sins are important to Jesus. If you foot causes you to sin, cut it off. If your eye, cut it off. Better to be crippled or blind and be in heaven than go to hell.

Do you take your sins that seriously? Is it life and death for you? Admit it. You love yourself more than Him, don't you? You would never cut your hands and feet off to avoid sin. Nor should you

So when you treat others like you are most important and they are there to serve you. When when you tear up and curse your spouse or slander those who you don't like behind their backs, do your really think the children don't see?

It's worse when we do it around the church. They see when we drop them off to Sunday School and go do something fun instead learning about Jesus. They see when we bolt from church mad because someone or something didn't go the way we wanted.

You do it. I do it too. Daily and much. And the little ones see it, hear every word, and they learn. They have the devil, the world, and their sinful flesh working against them. Then, you add us adults teaching kids how to be.. well... us.

And what waits for us? The terrible hell of drowning in our sins when the heavy millstone that is used to grind grain and can only be moved by a donkey is put around our necks and we are pushed into the sea. That's what we get for scandalizing the little ones!

We are lost in and of ourselves.. Lost to Him. Lost to life. Lost to salvation and heaven. Lost in a hell made by our sins.

But, there is One who left the ninety-nine righteous behind to go get you! The Shepherd who goes and gets the strays and saves them... saves us from our sins.

Today, once again, He has found you. He has brought you back, even you over His shoulder, to His sheepfold. He has placed you in the midst of His children. And then, called you God's child.

Now that we've been forgiven, learn from the children. Watch them. Put them before you. Learn from them to be Christians. Laugh. Joke. Smile. Be of good cheer. Cast your cares upon Him.

And rejoice, you were lost. Be of good cheer, you are found. And put a smile on your face, for you were headed for a drowning with a millstone around your neck, but instead you died in the waters of your baptism and have been raised to new life again.

Life, not spent for you any longer, but for those around you. Children first, then you. Their needs before your own.

So, turn from your sins. Turn from putting yourself first and all that being the greatest stuff. Look to the Cross of Christ for salvation.

Then, remember this cross was given and donated by the young people. Every week, it points us to Christ.... And that tells me one thing. I'm gonna sound like a youth pastor, but that's what you called me to be. We won't always be here. Will we? The Christian Church will be, but not you and me.

I know you love the little ones of this church. So, let's try all the more, now that we have been forgiven, to teach our children the Christian Faith while we have time – teach them about Jesus and His gifts. In our day school, in Sunday School, in all the groups in our church for young people.

Let's be a church that is looking to always have more Gospel for the children. A church filled with young voices, singing and making music in their hearts to the Lord. Parents bringing their kids to church, grandparents their grandparents, kids bringing their neighbors.

Watch the children singing hymns. Watch them praying.. Watch them say the Creed. Watch them confess Jesus. Then, learn from them how to laugh and play. Smile and be happy.

Not as a Law. But, because you have been forgiven. Because you have been forgiven, found, and rescued from your sins.

So, if we wanna enter the kingdom of God, look at the children. That'll tell you – there will be a lot of laughter, joy, singing in heaven. Little voices singing off key. And older ones too, eh? In the name of Jesus. Amen.