Fun with Jesus (Friday Devotional)

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:2-3

Earlier this week, I had the honor of serving as an adult leader at Preteen Camp, accompanying 3 other sponsors and 6 of our church’s kids for a week at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Encampment in Cedar Hill. As you might expect, we had all kinds of fun at camp—we ziplined, we swam, we played football in the cabin, and we played hours of Gaga Ball.

We also, of course, ate together, prayed together, participated in Bible studies, and went to two worship services a day. But I actually want to focus on the previous paragraph’s activities for a moment, because they speak to something that’s worth remembering for adults: it’s ok to have fun learning about Jesus!

In the gospels, Jesus took time to tell his disciples that their faith ought to resemble a child’s, that they should actually “become like little children” in order to know him and enter his kingdom. Most directly, he meant they should humble themselves. But there is more to learn from children than just humility, and one of those things is joy.

Kids come to church—and church camp, Vacation Bible School, and all sorts of other children’s ministry activities—with two expectations: that they will have fun and that they will learn about Jesus. Through crafts, games, meals, and other interactive activities, adults show children the love of Jesus and invite them to be themselves—their carefree, fun-loving selves—as they learn.

Just as Jesus promised, we adults have a lot to learn from kids in that respect. When church begins to feel like work, when fellowship and worship and discipleship become more about tasks to be completed than about drawing close to our Savior, then it’s time to look to our humblest, most innocent teachers for perspective. If we will watch them, listen to them, and learn from them, we will be reminded—just as I was this week—that faith is meant to be salvation, not a slog. Our kids have fun with Jesus—we should try doing the same!