A Child and An Exorcist

In Matthew 18:10-14, Jesus, I believe, is tying the child who was in his arms to the man who was discovered casting out demons in Jesus' name together in a common truth. The child acts sincerely to rest in Jesus' arms, and the exorcist is also comfortable in speaking the name of Jesus. Both have insufficient understanding and there is work yet to do if they are to fully enjoy the blessings Jesus has come to give. The child will grow and will see sin spring to life and die spiritually (Rom.7). The exorcist will come to realize as he listens more to Jesus that He is in need of salvation and new birth. But for now they are both in need of rescue and protection. The child has an angel to look after him, and not just any angel, but one who beholds the face of the Father in heaven. The exorcist has one who has come from the Father to seek him and to find him, and bring him into the fold, the Son of God Himself. It is just as wrong to hinder an exorcist who is seeking to know Jesus as it would be to hinder a child who is experiencing the warm embrace of Jesus. The angels rejoice before the face of the Father over the child, and Jesus rejoices over the rescue of the exorcist.

It is interesting that Jesus connects an innocent child and a seeker. The first has not experienced salvation because they are not yet lost. The latter has not experienced salvation because they are not yet found. But, both the one who is on the front side of salvation and the one who is on the backside of salvation are looking for it and at it, and are making their way toward it, and do not need to experience any stumblingblock along the way. Jesus has a special place in his heart for children and for seekers. We should too. Our indignation should be aroused whenever we see any child or any seeker cut off from free access to Jesus. The abuse and neglect that causes children to struggle with trust and the hypocrisy that causes seekers to struggle with trust are merely two types of the same thing. Both become confused making it hard to see Jesus. It is for us to fight for children and seekers. It is for us to point out the ones who are making their way toward Jesus and run to clear their paths so they do not trip on the way. We even do more. We run to get them and usher them in. We go out to receive them. We invite, we encourage, we seek them, as Jesus did. We call them to come to our arms, and we find them doing good in His name, and encourage them.

Now these are discussions we should be having. How do we in His church remove the obstacles children are experiencing as they grow in their innocence which is often robbed through abuse and neglect? And how can we as a church embrace others who need, like Apollos, to know the way of the Lord more perfectly, taking them aside, and teaching them without putting unnecessary obstacles in their paths? This would be a meaningful topic for some committee meetings. This would be at least what Jesus would consider to be worthy of our time. So let's find some children and exorcists to serve.