Matthew 19:13-14 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Disciples don’t always know the Master’s heart. Just as the passage from two days ago had Jesus rebuking Peter for being the devil’s mouthpiece, here too Jesus directly contradicts and counteracts what his disciples have done. Down through the centuries people have been quick to act in God’s Name without really checking with God first. Occasionally this is deliberate, but more often, as here, it is simply acting on presumption. The problem is, we often don’t know what God wants to do in a given situation. Jesus’ parable of the weeds in the field of grain comes to mind. (Matthew 13:24-30) Many well-meaning, dedicated people would presume that weeds are to be pulled up as soon as they are spotted, but Jesus said to let it wait until harvest time, so that the genuine grain wouldn’t be uprooted. That is the problem with many heresy hunters today. At the same time, if false teachers go unchallenged, there is the danger of more people being led astray. Paul even had to call Peter down to correct an issue. (Galatians 2:14) In general, we need to be consistent in speaking the truth in love and praying for those who are in error, staying open to the possibility that we are the ones who are mistaken. The whole point is, humility before God is vital. As C. S. Lewis said, one thing that is certain is that when we get to heaven, we will discover that each of us was wrong somewhere.

This is an issue for every teacher/leader in the Church, and certainly so for me. Just because I desire to do God’s will perfectly all the time doesn’t mean I succeed! I too am subject to societal influences and presumption based on past experience. I need to be ready for God to do new things! Being thoroughly familiar with the Bible is important, but along with that I need humble sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, so that my decisions will be what God has already decided. I do not have sufficient wisdom for all the complex situations I’m involved in. Actually, I don’t even begin to know everything about them. I need to be faithfully consistent in seeking God’s will at every turn, not in anxiety but with the assurance that He wants to lead me even more than I want to be led. I must not get proud when I have heard Him correctly, because that will surely deafen me to the next thing He wants to tell me. As the song says, “I can’t even walk without Him holding my hand!”

Father, thank You for this reminder. The schedule is very full this week, and for the next couple of weeks as well. Help me not be anxious about any of it, but wait quietly on You so that I may both hear Your instructions and receive Your strength to do each task. May I do Your will and not what my mind or other influences might tell me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!