Childlike Faith

It would be wonderful to go back to childhood wouldn’t it? It’s almost comical how we go through life never being quite happy where we are at any given point in our lives. When we were children, we couldn’t wait to be older – even parsing our years of age into “12-1/2” or “14-1/2”. When was the last time you ADDED a half a year to your age to try to sound older?

From the adult perspective, we recognize the glory and the joy of childhood. Chief among the phrases we might apply to our childhood, (assuming a degree of normalcy,) are: Little responsibility, no work, great health, no wrinkles, no worries, and of course – very little anxiety about anything. There was never a concern about where the next meal was coming from – you just always knew it would be there. You were completely shielded from the cares of the world by mom and dad.

Mark 10:13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." 16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

Jesus was very specific in His loving reference to this child brought into His midst. Not only should we NOT keep children away from Jesus – WE are to be like children in our approach to Jesus! This is an astounding pronouncement. (Especially to all the high and mighty religious types present both then and now.) This is a stumbling block – but a wonderful one! We, as children of a faithful and loving Father, can – and must – revert back to our childhood experience in how we are to view life. No worries. No anxiety. We are to live this life with a simple wholehearted trust in the provision of our ‘Dad’ – without even a thought given to the possibility of any sort of lack. He follows that up with further commands:

Luke 12:22 … "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

How can we stop worrying, when worry is an expression of responsibility? Jesus says, “What good does worrying about anything do? What does it produce?” He proclaims The Father has all of our needs covered – and His desire as well as His command is we give no further thought to worry or anxiety or the fear of man. Our only responsibility is to love Jesus – like a child.

- Pastor Bill