A Table for Children

In this morning’s sermon we saw that the obedience of children to their parents is founded upon God’s covenant with us. And this covenant likewise provides the ground for the presence of our children at the Table. God has told us that His kingdom belongs to such as these. He makes nursing babes and squirmy toddlers examples of the faith with which all of His people are to approach Him. And it is that same childlike faith that we express at this Table. God claims us as His children by baptism and grants us access to this Table where He nurses us unto everlasting life. It is here in the assembly of God’s people for the ministry of Word and Sacrament that you express your longing for the pure milk of the Word and taste and see that the Lord is good. This Table reminds us that we are all children of God, utterly dependent upon our Father to feed us, nourish and strengthen us. Here all of our eyes wait upon God to give us heavenly food, to open His hand and fill us with good things, to send forth His Spirit and renew us. And though He intends for all of us to mature in our faith, for our faith to deepen and strengthen, yet we never get beyond this Table. Indeed, the maintenance of this childlike, receptive, trusting faith is critical for our growth in grace. It is when we think we’re beyond a childlike trust in the gospel that we get off track in the Christian life. You never get beyond the need to be fed by God at His Table. In His grace, God has provided this weekly reminder that we are all children of God and all alike stand in need of His grace. Come, then, as babes longing for the pure milk of God’s grace and taste and see that He is good!