I was in a great mood! I had no cares in the world, and life was going fantastic. Then suddenly, a hard whack on the side of the head suddenly changed my reality. I recall feeling dizzy and in much pain after the hit came. My father had just rang my bell because I had forgotten something at home. I had forgotten I was watching my 9-month-old baby brother, Blais, now 43, who lay in a crib alone. My stepmom had my brother safely in her arms as dad was ringing my bell. It's a memory I will never forget, one that directs us to our following command known as "Despise Not the Little Ones" — little ones, like my brother, who needed care, rather than an older brother playing hooky in his responsibility.
Jesus shares this Wonderfully Weird Command at the beginning of the parable of The Lost Sheep. Matthew 18:10a, "See that you do not despise one of these little ones." We need to understand the significance of these words amid the parable to keep watch over the "little ones." First, who are the "little ones"? The little ones are Jesus' disciples, God's children often referred to as sheep. If the child of God does not know the critical requirements or teachings of Jesus, then, indeed, they are lost sheep left isolated in their bin or crib. Recall, Jesus said, with a child sitting in his lap as an object lesson for his growing disciples, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:2)." These words are essential because of what a child is responsible for doing full-heartedly. Upfront, like a child learning and memorizing their alphabet, disciples must do likewise with The Commands of Christ if the growth of character and faith is to be reality; hence, learning the teachings of Jesus, or what I call The Wonderfully Weird Commands of Christ. Like a student who doesn't know their ABCs in school, if a disciple doesn't learn the basics, they will undoubtedly struggle and be lost in life. Please understand that this is not God's intent; he intends that none of these little ones should perish, as expressed in Matthew 18:14.
For many Christians, the truth is they are lost. Very few can honestly recite the basic teachings or Commands of Christ accurately in the faith. It's sad, indeed. What is the solution? The resolve, a spiritual hard whack on the side of the head, wakes the seasoned Christian to God's reality. The reality is getting back to the basics of Jesus and learning his teachings to understand life at a grown-up level based on God's purpose. To despise the "little ones," by nature, is to dislike or scorn the responsibility of keeping and caring for the younger Christian.
Today, let's all decide to submit to the teachings of Christ to be firm and grow in his character and faith. To do so will allow us to rest in Jesus's instructions to avoid the dizziness and much pain of not doing so. It will also enable us to care for the "little ones" to show them what it means to embrace the fully Wonderfully Weird Command, "Despise Not the Little Ones."
With a tolerant and caring heart,