Do you remember when the disciples asked Jesus who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?
Jesus responded by bringing a little child into their midst and said to them: "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me" (Matthew 18:1-6). Read also Mark 9:36-37 and Luke 9:48.
These words from the mouth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ tell us that our attitude toward receiving children reveals our attitude to Jesus. We are to receive them in His name. Therefore, shouldn't we receive each new baby as though we were receiving Jesus Himself?
It seems strange, doesn't it, that many couples want to receive Jesus and yet don't want to receive a baby from Him. We are not meant to receive children with the attitude, "Well, I guess we'll survive somehow if God gives us another baby."
The Greek word for "receive" is dechomai and actually means, "to accept a gift deliberately and readily, to welcome, to embrace, make one's own, not to reject." This word is used 55 times in the New Testament. One of the occasions is about receiving Christ into the heavens after He left this earth (Acts 3:21). With what joy and fanfare He must have been welcomed back into His heavenly home. This is the same way God wants us to receive children in His name.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell