It’s kid week, or so it seems! My grandsons, ages 8 and 5, are in the house. They good boys, full of questions and curiosity about life. Their optimism about each morning, the sense of ‘newness’ that they bring to the day, inspires! They are attending our outreach week at church with about 150 other children each morning. All these kids, with their boundless energy, their enthusiasm, and their readiness to be taught - turned my thoughts to Jesus’ words.
"Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting." (Matthew 18:2-7, NLT)
The Master urges us to become like little children before our Heavenly Father. Did you meet Him this morning with an expectation of discovery, with joy just because He is? Is your attitude like that a child who accepts each day as it is? Or, have you become so cool and sophisticated that you will not trust God for what this day holds? We are all tempted to turn from simply delight in Him, to seek the approval of people around us. Apart from delighting the Lord, that need can grow so strong that we are ready to do things we don’t enjoy and buy things we don’t like just to have the approval of those we give the power of influence over us.
The Lord also warns us about turning a person who is like a child before Him away from their faith by pressuring them with temptation! We can’t avoid living around temptation, but we surely can avoid pulling people away from their Father. If we are struggling with sin, we only deepen our despair if we choose to drag others down to our level. Instead, Jesus says that we should welcome those who trust Him with a simple faith, letting them lift us up.
One of the wonderful things about a little child is his readiness to live in this moment. The kids who are part of our Vacation Bible School are not staring at the clock, moving to push to the next thing. They are ‘in the moment!’ What delight they find as they explore the opportunities and possibilities that present themselves. Take Jesus’ words to heart today, disciple. When you find yourself fretting, complaining, or wishing you were someone else, or that life was something other than it is, or that you were somewhere far away; stop and give the Spirit the opportunity to renew your joy in the moment. Humbly accept the day and let joy find you!
____________________
Let me be a man
With a perfect heart,
Let me be a son
Who will please You, Father;
Let me be a child
Who reveals Your will
In all I do and say.
Fill me with Your Spirit,
Lord, I pray, that Jesus
Will be seen in all of my life;
Let me be a son
Who will please You, Father,
Let me be a man
With a perfect heart.
A Man With A Perfect Heart
Hayford, Jack
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