If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

After reading this passage, I am left with a very strong impression: Jesus deeply loves little children. It reminds me of the Sunday school song, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.“

Children are impressionable. They copy after the adults that watch over them. Parents have a strong role in raising their children. And if we raise them in a Godly manner, we are rewarded. But as this passage says, if we raise them by inflicting harm on them or in an environment of fear, God‘s judgment is upon us.

And so in direct response to this, Jesus tells us to cut out, get rid of, and eliminate sin in our life. This is especially true of sin that directly impacts our children.

What is it that I hold so tightly to, that God is asking me to get rid of? What are the things that cause me to be a bad example or inflict harm on those around me?

Lord, thank you for this passage, where you highlight how highly valued little children are to you. Please help me to invest in, build up, and encourage the children in my life, as you did in yours.