ODJ: one, two, three . . .
May 27, 2010
The kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it (vv.16-17).
READ: Luke 18:15-30
When my son was a toddler, I played a game with him that made a big splash—literally. As I stood in the water, just a few feet from the edge of the pool, I would reach out my arms and encourage him to leap from the safe terra firma to me. I would count, “One . . two . . . THREE!” and with a giggle he would launch himself into my arms. To add some excitement, I would let his feet splash in the water just a bit.
Jesus reached His arms out to the “little children.” Though His disciples felt that the children were a “bother,” the Savior highly valued them and their faith (Luke 18:16-17). Unlike the pious and proud (v.9), they possessed a childlike faith marked by openness and trust. As Jesus lovingly embraced some kids, He said, “Anyone who doesn’t receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it” (v.17).
In contrast, Luke then records Jesus’ interaction with a rich religious leader. The man testified that he had kept God’s “commandments since I was young” (v.21). Like the apostle Paul prior to his conversion, this man had been diligent in keeping the letter of the law (Philippians 3:6). But Jesus zeroed in on the rich leader’s heart and told him to sell all his possessions and “follow Me” (Luke 18:22).
Does Christ ask every person to jettison all they own? No. This was simply a way of showing the man that he’d have to take the step of faith he desperately needed. The goal was for him to have a trusting, humble,
childlike faith in the Savior.
Today, Jesus calls to you with arms outstretched. Humbly receive Him with childlike trust. Ready? One . . . two . . . three! —Tom Felten
Why does Jesus celebrate childlike faith? What will it take for you to trust in Him this way?
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How do one have a childlike faith.i want to know more.
When he was not yet ten years old, my youngest brother used to pray whenever he lost his things and couldn’t find them. His prayer would be simple: Dear God, I can’t find my book, or my toy. Please help me find it.
I think this is a demonstration of child-like faith. It’s absolute faith and trust in God and all that He is.
It is not wrong to ask questions to find out more and expand your biblical knowledge. But the problem is when we begin to doubt God. The apostle James says, “But let [a man] ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6, ESV).
For Christians to have a child-like faith, sometimes things come to a point where we just have to lay down what our own human understanding, and, like a child, focus our eyes on God and trust in His unchanging character. We can cling on to simple but fundamental truths that God is only good all the time, and simply trust that even if we might not understand what is going on now, God can and will be the one who we can trust to carry us through.
God, give me the faith of a little child
Who trusts so implicitly,
Who simply and gladly believes Thy Word,
And never would question Thee. —Showerman