GrandGram #9
Written for Publication on 14 April 2023
At that time the disciples came to ask Jesus, “Who is considered to be the greatest in heaven’s kingdom realm?” Jesus called a little one to his side and said to them, “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm. And if you tenderly care for this little one on my behalf, you are tenderly caring for me. But if anyone abuses one of these little ones who believes in me, it would be better for him to have a heavy boulder tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment he deserves!
Matthew 18:1-6 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Listen to the truth I speak: Whoever does not open their arms to receive God’s kingdom like a teachable child will never enter it.
Mark 10:15 TPT
I feel such a deep sense of reverential awe in these words of Jesus to us regarding our tender care of children. As grandparents, we are honored by Jesus to be a voice that He trusts to lead our grandchildren into the ways of His heart and Kingdom realm.
They are already supernaturally designed by their Creator to be teachable and humble, trusting and great as they grow in their knowledge of Him and Heaven’s Kingdom realm. Their wild-eyed wonder is impressionable and wonderful to behold as they put into practice all Jesus says they are and can do in His name. They are uninhibited, faith-filled and free!
Let’s call them up higher into all God decrees they can be in Him so that our world can marvel at the goodness of God being manifest through all the generations and choose to taste and see that He is good! Let’s tenderly care for our grandkids and teach them to be the greatest in Heaven’s Kingdom realm!
The Greatest In Heaven’s Kingdom Realm
By Beth Sheldon
Little child, He draws you near
Open are your ears to hear
Teachable your tender heart
Wonder filling every part
Humbly trusting through and through
Jesus lays His hands on you
His Kingdom opens wide its doors
With lavish love His heart He pours
Wanting you to always know
In His arms you’re safe to grow
You’re born for such a time as this
You bring Him everlasting bliss
He pursues you evermore
Decrees you are worth dying for
Zealously He cares for you
Grieves when others take what’s true
Of your design and confuse
Your trusting mind, they abuse
His fury burns against these lies
Paraded as truth before your eyes
They mock the glory of your design
Through perversion, they misalign
Woe to those who stumble you
Into a path that isn’t true
Jesus says, better that they
A heavy stone upon them lay
And be thrown into the deepest sea
Than to steal your true identity
Better they drown than on you prey
Deceiving your impressionable heart each day
Oh, that the fear of the Lord would fall
And to the fathers and mothers call
Wake up! Your children are stealing away
The enemy desires their deaths today
Don’t let these lambs be taken to slaughter
Speak up for your son, contend for your daughter
Arouse your heart like a man of war
Come awake to WHO you are fighting for
What could be more important than they?
Now is the time, today is the day
With sober, reverential awe
We need to see what Jesus saw
When He drew that child so near to him
And made His heart so clear to them
Their preciousness is worth protecting
For them His heart is resurrecting
Within the hearts of those who will stand
Believing He comes to heal our land
Praying, then teaching God’s ways to them
Reminding them they belong to Him
Yes! They are a part of His family
That endures through eternity
The Kingdom of God welcomes them home
God’s greatest gladness is to call them His own
To bring His Kingdom here to this earth
He needs His children to know their worth
So they can reign and sustain His ways
To all generations through all of their days
Grandparents, parents and children all
Gloriously awakened to their high holy call
Become broadcasting beacons of His great light
Driving away the darkest of night
So, if great in God’s Kingdom we want to be
Like little children, give us eyes to see
Teachable, humble, faith-filled, free
Quick to embrace Your deep mystery
We don’t have to have it all figured out
Or trip up on things that could cause us to doubt
Eyes fixed on Jesus, we run with abandon
Laughing and playing like carefree children
Proclaiming good news of God’s Glorious Kingdom
As we walk in the ways of His heavenly wisdom
Then hearts are healed and ruins rebuilt
And sinners set free from the burdens they’ve felt
They become saints of God Most High
And reign from their seat in Heaven’s sky
And families see their sons and daughters come home
As Papa God throws a party like the world’s never known
Beauty for ashes are the gifts He is giving
Look how they’re rejoicing in the land of the living!
Behold the Garments of Praise He’s bestowing!
See all those rings gleaming on fingers
As in the glory of it all the whole family lingers
Laughing and grateful with childlike delight
Our Father in heaven has made us all right
And Jesus, our brother, most joyful of all
Sandals our feet at each glory-filled ball
He, whose sandals we weren’t worthy to untie
Washes and sandals our feet with a cry
“I call you worthy! I know your name!
Child, you are mine forever! Amen!”
I call you now to bring my Kingdom here
I clothe and equip you to shine without fear
You are the ones ablaze with my Spirit
Empowered with good news for all who will hear it
So who is the greatest in Heaven’s Kingdom realm?
Every childlike heart with Jesus at the helm
!