By
Shelby G. Floyd
Credit: Google Images
Once Jesus held up a little child in his arms and stated that unless adult people are converted and become as little children, they cannot enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3). He added that when one humbles himself as a little child, that person is great in the kingdom (Matthew 18:4). Christ loved the little children and pointed out that God is praised out of the mouth of the innocent little children.
In America, almost every day we hear of little children being kidnapped, sexually abused and murdered by unrepentant sex offenders, and uncaring parents and caretakers. How long will this wickedness be tolerated by the general public and by those who are appointed to bring about justice? Little children who are abused are powerless and need someone to speak up for them and act on their behalf.
History is replete with monsters that abused and murdered children and adults. Hitler, Stalin, Nero and Herod the king in Bible history were all guilty of great atrocities. History judges them and those like them who are nameless, as worthy of the censure of all decent people and worthy of eternal punishment awaiting such (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 21:8).
Upon the birth of the Lord Jesus, Herod heard that Christ was born King of the Jews. Out of envy, jealousy and political rivalry and a misunderstanding of the nature of the kingdom Christ came to establish, Herod set upon a course to abuse and kill all of the innocent children up to two years old. The angel of the Lord gave a special command to Joseph:
“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him”…When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi” (Matthew 2:13, 16).
Let every member of the church and every citizen of our great country rise up to stop the brutal treatment against little children. Christ taught that anyone who would offend one of these little ones who believe in him, it would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and drowned in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:6). Let all who care for these little ones pray for them and bless them with our support and solicitude.
Copyright © 2015 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, IN46142