Mark 10:1-12  Once again  Jesus is questioned and tested by the Pharisees.. this time asking about divorce.  Jesus answers with a question about what  Scripture says..  "What did Moses command you?"  Then He goes on to  explain the truth behind their answer.  Moses had allowed divorce because of the hard hearts of men.  The truth is that God made men and women.. He intended them to marry and to become "one flesh".  He did not.. and does not want divorce.  He does not want the pain of broken lives and broken families for His people. It is still our hard hearts that break up marriages..  hearts too hard to forgive..  hearts too hard to trust.. hard hearts that turn away from God and from the vows we make in His Presence. 

Verses 13-16  Jesus sees people bringing their children to Him and the disciples turning them away.. and He became "indignant" with them.. "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  Jesus took the children into His own arms and blessed them. This is one of the most precious snapshots that Mark paints for us. Jesus loving the little children who come to Him.. not with questions and tests.. but with open hearts and joy.  This is how we are to come to Him... just like these children.. 

What a contrast!   Hard-hearted religious leaders with their tests and questions... and little children with open hearts and great love.  Which goes away blessed?  Which will we be?  The disciples still didn't get it! They didn't send away the Pharisees but they tried to send away the children...

Oh, Lord.. help us to be like the children coming to You with joy and faith.. And .. help us to receive those children with open arms like You did.. may we never cause anyone to stumble in their faith but to have open hearts.. like Yours.  

Father in heaven,  we ask for Your Kingdom to come.. the Kingdom where children are welcomed with opened arms.... where we are welcome and forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness..  where our hardness of heart is melted and made new.. where Jesus is King and we are all loved and held closely to the heart of God. Where we love as we are loved.. where we forgive others as we have been forgiven.. We ask this is the Name that is above all names.. the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.