Being like a child?

 

From a human perspective, it seems that following Jesus is a decision we make. However the Bible teaches that this is a decision that God the Father makes. He reveals Christ to those He will save, and Christ reveals the Father to those chosen ones and the Holy Spirit calls them into the fold. The process of hearing His call and responding is something we do, but it begins and happens because of what He has done.

The ‘self’ in me likes to take credit for whatever good things I do. This makes it easy to say, “I accepted Christ” when the reality is that Christ accepted me and called me. Does He call everyone? I don’t know the hearts and spiritual happenings in others, only what the Word of God says. First, it says these things about the work of God to reach out to me. . . .

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:25–27)

Do those verses give any answers? Do they suggest that those who think they know all things and think they are wise will not hear or pay attention to the call of God? Doing that requires being receptive — like a child. As Jesus said I must be like a child to enter His kingdom.

Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:16–17)

It says ‘like a child’ but not ‘childish’ — meaning humble, trusting, curious, not self-centered and demanding. A child turns to others for help, is open about needs and does not assume he knows everything. A childlike person will respond to Jesus’ invitation, listen for His voice, and follow what He says.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

Being a child is easy for some, but more difficult for those who are governed by pride and an enlarged sense of their own importance. Jesus is not talking about a self-indulgent, spoiled brat, but a little one who is surprised and thankful for every blessing. He does not mean one who is anxious to be the best and wants everything he or she sees, but one willing to please and even work hard. I look around, even look in the mirror and seldom see childlike people. Most have a personal agenda for all that they do and I must admit that selfishness can creep into my motivations. Childlike or not, the bottom line is this:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

PRAY: We all fall short, Lord Jesus. It is easy to pat myself on the back, or at least focus on what I want for my days, even what I want to think about, or to indulge in. I know that whatever I do ought to be for Your glory. That is a simple command, but far from simple in obeying it. Increasing numbers in my birthdays aside, I need to be more like a child.

 

Like a child? Or childish?

We know a family from another culture and another part of this world who have become close friends, even calling us by family names. They are Christians who have been persecuted and learned to deeply trust God for everything. In their faith, they are transparent with us, like children in their attitude and joy. Sadly, some people think that because of that child-like trust and simple joy, this family has a low IQ and are unable to make good choices.

Christ said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” (Matthew 18:3–5)

That attitude of a child is not about how much they know or how dependent the child is on adults to take care of them. It is about trust, receptivity, being eager to listen and obey, about being open, being who they are without putting on a false layer to cover up their sense of inadequacy.

Think about the result of a child of loving parents getting the idea that his parents would not give him food and clothing unless he earned them in some way. This is part of what Jesus meant. Children of God are to remain trusting, not spoil their sweet relationship with God by thinking they must work for spiritual blessings. The NT describes this:

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:4)

This could be illustrated by one person who also knows the first family I described. When I mentioned the mature godliness I saw, he described it as “childish” in critical terms, rather than “child-like” as a virtue. Later, that same person expressed that applying Scripture is paramount rather than first interpreting it properly. He is heavy into ‘doing’ without first seeking what God wants. He seems to be always tired and without deep joy.

Without knowing the human heart, I cannot say what goes on in this critic’s mind. He doesn’t seem to think Jesus is a “hard man” like the one He describes in Matthew 25:24, yet without the transparency of a child, who can know what drives him or others like him who dismiss the ‘children’ of God as naive and in need of much guidance.

Another characteristic of those who deeply trust Christ like a child is that they have realized the truth Jesus describes here:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

Jesus would not have to say this if so many people, Christians included, have not bowed their necks to the yoke of Christ as to a yoke of bondage. They read these verses as if they are a fairy tale. Sometimes when a Christian is in bondage and then finds true liberty, they think there is something wrong about their experience.

I get that. The liberty of transparency and total trust at times has made me feel like I should be ‘doing something’ or be more burdened for the messes and the needy people that I have prayed for. Then God reminds me that He will tell me what to do and when to do it. As for my thoughts, He says this to show me how He wants me to think:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8–9)

PRAY: Jesus, there are times for being burdened about the ugly stuff, for thinking about needy folks and doing what I can for them, but I’m not to be driven by a sense of duty, only by what You reveal to me and speak about directly to me. I’m also not to care if others think I’m naive or childish. They simply do not realize the freedom for which You have set me free. Forgive them and even better, show them what it is like to be Your child.

 

Growing older means becoming a baby . . .

 

The NT often speaks of Christians as God’s children. Jesus even said that becoming as a child was vital to being part of His family. A mature believer can be child-like in their faith, transparent and trusting to the point that others might think that person is simple-minded or not very intelligent. God measures our maturity differently than the world measures it! As the Bible says:

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1)

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

Those who do not know Jesus cannot understand the child-like faith of those who do. Our values are different, as are our desires and our experience of the Lord. We have . . .

 . . . put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (1 Peter 2:1–4)

One lie of Satan is that God is not good, but His people have had a taste and know better. Because of that, we want to know more and that knowledge comes from drinking in truth about Him from His Word, wanting it like a baby wants milk. The only thing that can ruin that desire is sin, sin from yielding to Satan’s lies.

I’ve found as I grow older that becoming child-like means becoming more dependent on my heavenly Father than on myself and my own ideas and abilities. This is a humbling process that involves embracing helplessness and as Paul wrote, being able to “boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” and “for the sake of Christ” being “content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.” A child-like Christian learns that “when I am weak, then I am strong” even though the process seems quite the opposite of growing up. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

As today’s devotional says, Scripture is our food, our source of spiritual growth. In it, we find the encouragement and comfort of God, direction and strength for life, yet also discover what needs to be ‘put to death’ of that old nature with its pride, self=promoting desires, and many of the qualities that the world admires. Spiritual growth turns out to be quite different than what most people would describe as maturity.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6–7)

Not only does God work in me to be more like Him and more like the child who relies completely on his parents in wonderful child-like trust, He also wants me to cooperate with this process, as uncomfortable and even humiliating as it can be. Rooted in Christ means no other source of what I need except what He supplies, and not being anxious or afraid that He will not take care of me. It means being taught by Him, willing to listen and obey and most of all, being willing to read and study the textbook that my Teacher has supplied. It is going back to school to learn fundamentals, to review and review, to be tested and tested. And instead of complaining about all His ‘homework’ and the steepness of the learning curve, He wants me “abounding in thanksgiving.”

That reminds me also that our Thanksgiving Day is coming up and we usually give thanks for all the good things, the comforts of life. However, the Bible says such outlandish things as:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

In other words, He wants me to be abounding in thanksgiving for trials and faith-tests as well as the more pleasant parts of His blessings. I’m learning that the only way I can do that is by realizing, from His Word, how He uses all things for my good, to conform me into His image. All things, not just the feel-good stuff. If I stop reading and studying (or never bothered in the first place) I would be ignorant of the way He works and be like many who spend much of their time either trying to “fix” their life or complaining about how it could be better.

PRAY: Jesus, what can I say but thank You for the Bible. It is my milk, my bread, my link to Your heart so that You can reveal to me Your perfect will. No, not all of the ‘lessons’ You teach are fun and games, but they draw me to You and fill me with worship and thanksgiving. I must praise You and ask that You keep me hungry and thirsty to know You more and more.

PONDER: Consider all that the Word of God does by starting with Acts 20:32.