by David Chadwick All throughout Scripture, we see that Jesus loved children. He regularly used children and the characteristics and personality traits of a child to serve as a standard for how to follow and trust God. In Luke 18:17, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” In Matthew 18:5 he said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” According to Jesus’s teachings, do you see how in so many ways we should become increasingly childlike as we grow older? The world tries to snatch our innocence, pervert our purity, and rob the childlike faith we are supposed to have. If it’s going to be, it’s up to me. Take hold of your life by the bootstraps! But Jesus calls us all to a life of faith. He wants us to increase our faith beyond what we think is possible with our mere human minds. He also wants us to have faith like a child. Faith like a child can be likened to a child’s dependence on a loving parent. Picture a nursing child. Fresh out of the womb. Vulnerable. Completely dependent on mom for sustenance of life. Reliant on someone else for food, love, protection, and direction. Or a child lifting up his hands to be picked up and protected. Loved. Cared for. This is the same picture of us with our Abba. We are fully dependent on our Daddy God. The Bible constantly refers to him as Father so we can see our dependence on him. For example, Psalm 103:13 says, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” Dependence. Arms lifted up in worship and surrender. Faith like a child. This is another way to develop a life of faith.
Comments