I recently read of a children's wading pool that had been closed for nearly two years.  Finally, city workers painted the pool, filled it with water and opened it up to the neighborhood children.  Of course, parents and children alike were thrilled.  A short time later, however, their delight turned to anger.  A large number of the children had cuts on their feet.  it was discovered that the pool hadn't been cleaned out before it was painted.  The workers had simply spray painted over glass and other debris on the bottom of the pool.

The danger presented by these city workers is like the damage done by the Pharisees of Jesus' day (Matthew 23:1-12).  They would carefully clean the outside while giving little attention to the inside.  They were interested in making a good impression while little effort was made toward real change.

We are like Pharisees when we look out only for our own interests and become preoccupied with how others perceive us.  We can become full of ourselves, full of empty promises, full of selfish motives that are as sharp as broken glass.  God wants Christlikeness not cover-up.  Make sure you clean up the glass before you paint the pool.

This is VBS week at Eastside Baptist, and what an exciting time it is.  This is one of the highlights of our church calendar.  More of our members get involved in this activity than in any other.  We love children.  Approximately 40% of our congregation is made up of children and young people under the age of 18.

In the incident found in Matthew 19:13-15, the disciples must have forgotten what Jesus had said about children (Matthew 18:4-6).  Jesus wanted little children to come because He loves them and because they have the kind of attitude needed to approach God.  Christ didn't mean that Heaven is only for children, but that people need childlike attitudes of trust in God.

The openness of little children was a great contrast to the stubbornness of the religious leaders who let their education and sophistication stand in the way of the simple faith needed to believe in Jesus.  We must never take lightly the spiritual education and protection of the young in age and in the faith.  Remember Jesus said, "...suffer little children, and forbid them not..." (Matthew 19:14).