--OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES ~~

-"Out of the mouth
of babies and infants,
you have established
strength because of
your foes."
--(PSALM 8:2 / ESV)

--AFTER WATCHING ten-year-old Viola using a tree branch as a microphone to mimic a preacher, Michele decided to give Viola the opportunity to "preach" during a village outreach. Viola accepted. Michele, a missionary in South Sudan, wrote, "The crowd was enraptured...A little girl who had been abandoned stood in authority before them as a daughter of the King of kings, powerfully sharing the reality of God's Kingdom. Half the crowd came forward to receive Jesus."

The crowd that day hadn't expected to hear a child preach. This incident brings to mind the phrase "out of the mouths of babes," which comes from Psalm 8. David wrote, "Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes." (text). Jesus later quoted this verse in Matthew 21:16, after the chief priests and scribes criticized the children calling out praise to Jesus in the temple at Jerusalem. The children were a nuisance to these leaders. By quoting this Scripture, Jesus showed that God took seriously the praise of these children. They did what the leaders were unwilling to do: give glory to the longed-for Messiah.

As Viola and the children in the temple showed, God can use even a child to bring Him glory. Out of their willing hearts came a fountain of praise. ~~

--"Lord, help me have the willing heart of a child when it comes to praise. Thank You, our Lord, Redeemer, Savior and King above all kings, Jesus!--amen"
--ODB/LW

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]