I remember being scolded for not sitting still on the church pew when I was about five. You see, I couldn’t sit still. I had a feeling in my bones. My foot needed to tap, and my hands needed to clap as my little body had this tingling feeling. The more I heard the choir singing to the Lord, the more I felt this sensation. The adults in the sanctuary were praising the Lord and dancing with their arms raised toward heaven. I wondered if they felt this amazing feeling and deep need to show Jesus that I loved him by celebrating with my clapping and singing.
“PRAISE YE the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance; praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals; praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”
Psalm 150
I learned how to worship God through children’s church as I matured. Children’s Church was where I could ask my questions and get answers that were more on my level of understanding. Being myself with my friends was ok as we praised Jesus for loving us.
“And said, Verily I say unto you. Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3-4
Jesus wants us to humble ourselves as a child. A child believes with their whole heart. They have no judgments. They are eager to please. They seek knowledge, soaking it up like a sponge. Children see the good in everyone and encourage those around them to strive for greatness. But most of all, children have boundless faith.
Children are the future of the church. They are also a reflection of us. Young children watch our actions and listen to everything we say to others. Children learning about Jesus and his word is essential to rise up faithful followers of the future. We as adults should strive to worship Jesus as a child would, with nothing holding us back.
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
Deuteronomy 6:7
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
Psalms 127:3
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