August 22

For His Sake

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.” — Mark 9:37 BSB

This saying of Christ is rich with meaning and deserves deep reflection. To receive a child in a certain way is to receive Christ Himself. How are we to receive a child? “In Christ’s name”—that is, out of love for Him and for His sake, just as we would receive Christ if He were standing before us in person. It’s not enough to love children or care for the needy out of mere human compassion. We must do these things for Christ’s sake. In every child we encounter, we are to see Christ, and in receiving them with love, we are receiving Christ Himself.

The Christmas legends are filled with examples of this truth. One such story tells of a poor man walking through the forest on Christmas Eve. He heard a child’s cry and found a little one, cold and hungry. The man took the child home, and his family welcomed the stranger, sharing their evening meal with him. As they sat together, the child’s appearance changed, and they realized it was the Christ-child whom they had unknowingly received. Christ often comes to us in the form of those in need, and how we treat them is how we treat Him. This should make us careful in how we respond to those who need help, for we might unwittingly be turning away Jesus Himself.

These words of Christ also hold special significance for parents. Every child that comes into a home comes in Christ’s name, bringing blessings if received in the right spirit. But parents must welcome their children as gifts from God, with love, thankfulness, and reverence. If they reject their child, they are, in effect, rejecting Christ.