“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Mark 9:37 (NIV)

Just after Jesus foretold his death for a second time to his disciples, his closest friends, their mood changed. One would think it would change to sadness and fear from hearing the news that their friend was about to be killed. Instead, they started to argue about which of them was the greatest. (I wonder how often Jesus rolled his eyes at the absolute humanness of these men who loved him!) Rather than being hurt by their selfishness, Jesus went on to illustrate to his friends the importance of selflessness. “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Not only was this message one of service, but one of a sort of blind service.

Jesus wasn’t just speaking about the need for them to serve each other. He wasn’t just speaking about the need for them to serve those within their community. He picked up a little child and held “it” up to them, stating “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me…” It is important to note here that even in the Bible, the child in this scene is actually referred to as “it.” The fact that Jesus used a child to illustrate his point is extremely important to the message he was relaying. For many reasons, children were not of much value in those days. Jesus was basically getting up close and personal with an “it.” He was showing his disciples that even those – especially those – they believed to be disposable were the ones they needed to welcome and serve. They needed to become blind to their judgments of others and welcome and serve all mankind. For, in doing so, he went on to explain, they would also be serving God.

Imagine the shock those men must have felt as they tried to digest this message. Jesus was turning their entire world upside-down. Everything they previously believed had changed because of him. Selflessness, service, love, forgiveness. I wonder if they asked themselves, “What does that even look like!?!” Sadly, in my journey with Jesus, I have asked that question many times. It is usually followed by other questions like, “How do I serve someone who is as revolting as he is?” or “How do I forgive when she has never said she was sorry?” or “How can I love them when they are so mean to me?” What I have come to over and over again is that there is only one answer to all these questions. It is a simple answer, but not an easy one to carry out. That answer is this: When I serve someone who I find revolting; when I forgive someone who has never taken responsibility for their actions; when I love someone who has shown me nothing but hatred; that is when I am welcoming God into my heart. Whenever I do those things, I am serving my Father. And, what has been revealed to me as I have tried to make this my way of life is a wonderful thing: When I am welcoming God into my heart and serving Him, He gives me all I need, and more, to reach out to all others – ALL others. He showers me with compassion, mercy, grace, respect and love. He protects me and guides me so that I intuitively know when He is calling me to serve. He fills my heart to a point of bursting forth into a world that once made me crumble into a pile of fear. Whatever I give away, I receive back in His glory!

When I welcome Him and serve Him, He gives me all I need.