If you were a child in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1880, you probably would not have gotten to play outside very often. In fact, there is a good chance you would have been working in a factory for 16 hours a day, barely getting paid anything. Children as young as five years old were put to work in the cotton mills, working very long hours in extremely dangerous jobs where many of them were injured or killed. The conditions were so bad that the government had to create Child Labor Laws that protected the safety of children, so they could not be mistreated by the adults in their lives.

Though the conditions were terrible for children in the cotton mills and other factories in the United States in the 1800s, the mistreatment and devaluing of children is nothing new. In the Old Testament, the prophet Joel described something even worse. Many nations had conquered Jerusalem and taken the Israelites captive. They sold the Israelites into slavery, and God explained that He was going to judge the wicked nations for their evil behavior. Joel listed several wicked things the nations had done to the Israelites, and one of them was that they “sold a girl for wine” (Joel 3:3). Can you imagine an adult being so cruel and hard-hearted that he would sell a little girl to buy a drink of alcohol! Throughout history, many adults have not had the best interest of children in mind. 

Even today, you may have heard about something called human trafficking. Human trafficking is when mean, cruel, greedy people force others into illegal slavery. Often, young children are the victims of this evil activity.

If you are reading this issue of Discovery, it is most likely the case that you have caring parents and adults in your life that value you and want what is best for you. But you should know that your situation is a blessing, and it is one that many children in the past, and currently around the world, do not get to enjoy. 

When Jesus came to Earth, He was the perfect example of how we should treat others. He lived in Judea, in the area of the world that we now call the Middle East, about 2,000 years ago. During His life and ministry, He wanted to help people think correctly about how to treat others. Jesus especially wanted people to value, love, and protect children. You see, many people in Jesus’ time did not value children as they should have. They thought children were less important than the adults and were “in the way” and nuisances. 

On one occasion, many people came to Jesus to hear Him preach and be healed by Him. In this group, several parents brought their little children to Jesus so that “He might touch them” (Mark 10:13). Jesus’ disciples were aggravated with these parents, scolded them, and sent them away. When Jesus saw what the disciples were doing, the Bible explains that “He was greatly displeased” (Mark 10:14). This occasion is one of the few times in the Bible when the writers describe Jesus as “greatly displeased.” Of all the things that angered and displeased Jesus, not giving children the value and esteem they should have is high on the list. Jesus said to His followers, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” The Bible then says that Jesus “took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:14-16).

Think about what a powerful lesson that would have taught Jesus’ disciples and all His followers. When they saw Him stop everything He was doing and take time to bless the little children, they were getting to see that God loves children and values them greatly. Jesus showed us that children are just as valuable as adults, and often their attitudes and actions are more Christlike than those of many adults. Imagine when those children grew up and their Christian parents told them about how Jesus, God in the flesh, had held them and blessed them. What an impact that would have made on the lives of those children.

Another time, the disciples began to argue among themselves about who was the greatest. Can you imagine how that conversation went? Did Peter say he was the greatest follower of Christ because he walked on water and none of the other disciples did? Did John respond by explaining that, while Peter may have walked on water, he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink? Did John then try to claim the “greatest” spot by saying that he was the disciple whom Jesus loved? Would Andrew have argued that since he brought Peter to Jesus, then he was more important than Peter or John? Jesus knew they had argued about who was the greatest, so He asked them about it. They did not want to answer Jesus, because they were embarrassed. Jesus then called a little child to Him and set the child in the middle of the disciples. He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives Me” (Matthew 18:3-5). In Jesus’ kingdom, a little child has as much value as the richest merchant, the strongest athlete, the wisest judge, the most active evangelist, the bravest soldier, or the most popular political figure. 

Jesus also took opportunities to show how valuable and useful children could be to the work of the Lord. One time, a huge crowd of more than 5,000 people followed Jesus for three days. They listened to Him preach and watched Him perform miracles. They were so interested in what He was doing that they did not even stop to eat. Jesus knew they were hungry and told the disciples to feed them. The disciples were shocked. They had no idea where they would get food for so many people. Andrew, Peter’s brother, brought a young boy to Jesus and said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9). Jesus took the loaves and fish, blessed them, and multiplied them in such a way that every person ate as much as they wanted and there were still 12 baskets of leftovers. Jesus used one boy’s lunch to feed thousands. Think about how that boy must have felt. Jesus could have performed this miracle to feed the crowd any way He wanted. He took a boy’s small lunch and showed us that children have value, and God can use them in His Kingdom to accomplish great things. 

When Jesus was 12 years old, He explained to Mary and Joseph, His earthly parents, that He needed to be about His heavenly Father’s business (Luke 2:49). Each young person who is reading this Discovery this month can do wonderful things for the cause of Christ and be about the heavenly Father’s business. Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.

Doc’s Corner: Were Dinosaurs on the Ark?

Their fossils prove dinosaurs once existed—they weren’t made up. We know that they were alive before the Flood, because their fossils are found buried in Flood rock layers. We also know they were alive when the Flood started, because their footprints are found in Flood layers. Genesis 7:14 tells us that every kind of “beast” and “cattle/livestock” of the Earth was brought on the Ark to keep them alive. Since dinosaurs are land animals that were alive at the time, they would have been represented on the Ark (most likely young dinosaurs). So far, paleontologists (fossil scientists) haven’t found fossils of dinosaurs in the rock layers made after the Flood, but archaeologists (scientists who study artifacts from human history) have found many evidences of humans seeing dinosaurs after the Flood over the last few thousand years (drawings, figurines, stories, and Scripture). As we’d expect, the evidence always supports the Bible.

Published June 1, 2026

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