When I was a kid my parents took me and my brother to watch the filming of a TV episode at Silver Dollar City, a local theme park. This rare occurrence created a stir, and my brother and I enjoyed the excitement. I remember standing behind ropes quietly watching the proceedings, and then shaking the hands of some of the actors. A brush with royalty, and the Beverly Hillbillies remains an all-time favorite of mine.

As a child I stood dumbstruck when I met an actor. I wonder what it felt like for children to meet Jesus? Parents often brought their young ones to a well-known rabbi for a blessing. Jesus drew large crowds, parents with children included. At one point these gaggles of kids overwhelmed Jesus’s disciples:

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

I get the feeling that in the midst of ceaseless crowds, with ongoing teaching, questions and healings, the disciples felt enough was enough. But not Jesus—not when the kids ran up.

The King James Version of his response reads: Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. The word suffer in Early Modern English means to allow something or tolerate an action. Jesus tells his disciples to tolerate this intrusion, because the kingdom of heaven swells in childlike hearts.

Suffer little children to come unto me sounds stronger than let the little children come. The phrase leans toward get the children in front of me, or make pains to get these kids at my knee. Why? Because the kingdom of heaven sits like a spark in their midst, and Jesus fans the flames.

A riotous group of of kids doesn’t appeal to everyone. Bless those who teach Sunday morning classes at church, run Vacation Bible School, or lead the middle school youth group. As followers of Jesus, we should bless these efforts, as well as do all we can to get our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and their friends at his side. In doing so we open their lives, and ours, to the glorious kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:13-15

Photo by Nae Unani

I got a stove top griddle for Christmas last year. It covers two burners, and as there’s a bridge element between those burners it makes for an nice, evenly heated cooking area. I’m no chef, but I’ve made smashburgers, eggs and bacon, and grilled a few vegetables. Best of all, the griddle rolls out great pancakes.

We do blueberry pancakes, banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, whatever strikes us. The batter goes on the griddle, browns on one side, and then the all important flip. A broad griddle gives room to turn the pancake over quickly and decisively. Then butter and syrup and breakfast bliss.

Visions of flapjacks flooded my head with I came across this line from the book of Hosea: Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

The prophet Hosea castigates the nation and leaders of Israel for their active rebellion against the Lord. He points out their sin of worshipping the gods of the lands around them, of abandoning Jehovah to chase after demonic entities promising riches and power and sex and all their heart’s desires.

Hosea underscores the futility of their pursuits. A cake burned on one side and raw on the other is fit only for the trash. So goes Ephraim and the rest of the nation of Israel, growing old and gray and feeble while failing to notice their slide to irrelevance.

Don’t go off half-baked. Follow the Lord. Take in the Bible and talk with God throughout the day. Flip your pancake, and enjoy the Lord’s goodness all the days of your life.

Hosea 7:8

Photo by Fa Barboza

I’ve never been much of a fisherman. Growing up in the Ozarks opportunities surrounded me, but I found swimming in the lakes and creeks more enjoyable than casting a line. My wife, on the other hand, slays the fish. She’s some sort of maestro, conducting fish to her hook, oddly beguiling the creatures. Which is good for me, because I’ll always eat her catch.

The Bible says a lot about fishing. In one of my favorite stories, Jesus instructed Peter to pay a temple tax by going fishing. Authorities levied a tax on Jewish citizens to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the temple. Before sending Peter off to catch the prize, Jesus discussed this tax:

Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Jesus reminded Peter, and the rest of us, that a tax imposed to maintain God’s house does not apply to the Son of God. Jesus is Lord—Lord of the Sabbath, Lord of all creation, and especially Lord of the temple in Jerusalem. He owes no taxes and is beholden to no earthly governments or institutions. But, to not give offense, he pays the tax for himself and Peter.

You and I pay taxes every day. Sales tax, income tax, county tax and school tax to name a few. The ways our government representatives load taxes on the citizenry reveals a great deal of creativity. But I pay my taxes, because as a citizen I owe them.

Although the Lord owes no taxes, Jesus quietly paid for himself and his disciple. Following this miracle, in a short period of time Jesus humbly endured death on the cross to pay for mankind’s estrangement from God. That tax we cannot pay—we need the Lord to pay it for us.

But with the debt paid, as sons and daughters we are set free. Free from the penalty of sin, free to let worry about taxes fade, and free to enjoy a life with the best fisherman of all.

Matthew 17:24-27

Photo by Thomas Park

Lots of tasty treats turn my head. I’ll eat ice cream anytime it’s available (multiple times a day preferably). My wife’s chocolate chip cookies prove irresistible. I enjoy cakes, cinnamon rolls, candy of all sorts and sweet tea. If it’s got sugar in it, then I’ll go out of my way to get me some.

The children of Israel chased after gods they found sweeter than the Lord. To point out their failings, God commanded the prophet Hosea to take an adulteress as his wife: And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”

Apparently delicious, I’d love to try one of those raisin cakes. But sweet delicacies masked the nature of hearts far from the Lord. The more damning reality is how the children of Israel installed other gods upon their alters and bowed before them.

God sent them a message. Despite their idolatry and materialism, God proclaimed his love. Hosea loved a wayward woman, just as God loved his wayward people. His prophet’s unorthodox relationship meant to shock the people into recognizing this truth.

I often hear how the God of the Old Testament harshly judged people. But here I read how God loved those who rejected him. Even as God disciplined Israel and Judah, he never stopped loving them. Their obstinate and rebellious hearts failed to blunt God’s love.

God is love in his very nature. Even as I go off path and chase after cakes of raisins, God’s love remains. The Lord loved these self-willed ancient people and wonderfully, he loves you and me still today.

Hosea 3:1-3

Photo by Yulia Khlebnikova