Childlike Abandon

"'I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them." Mark 10:13-31

One of the things my heart ached for the most when my children grew up were the times when I would come home and they would run into my arms, "Daddy!!" I could have had a terrible day, but in that moment, all was made right. They saw me and their hearts were filled with joy. I didn't do anything. I didn't bring them a gift. I just showed up. That's it. These days, my grandkids have given this priceless gift back to me, "Grandpa!!"

Jesus loved to have the little kids run to him as well. The disciples didn't get it. More accurately, they were annoyed by it and tried to keep them away. Jesus told the disciples to leave the kids alone. They were interfering with those who belonged to the Kingdom. Enter the rich man. The disciples didn't interfere with him. His wealth signaled God's approval, right? Wrong. It was the snare that kept him from childlike abandon. 

Where do we see childlike abandon in our lives today? Who or what do we run to with such glee that we look childish when we do it? We get so cynical and self-conscious when we get older, don't we? The Bible records a different rich man not only running but then climbing a tree just so he could get a glimpse of Jesus. It was childlike abandon that resulted in salvation and great joy! What might childlike abandon to Jesus look like in your world today? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tested

"He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do." John 6:1-13 Test day. I remember all too well the feelings of discomfort connected to that expression from my school days. I was so thankful the last time I had to take one. Tests felt so much like a cruel game of, "Guess What I'm Thinking?" with the author of the test. During one particularly grueling test, I noticed one of my classmates cheating like there was no tomorrow. Predictably, he aced it and I let's just say, didn't. It occurred to me later that I was actually being tested in two different ways that day. By God's grace alone, I passed them both. Philip was in the hot seat that day. Jesus, out of the twelve disciples, decided to single him out for testing. From all appearances, there was a massive resource shortage. Five thousand men plus women and children all hungry up against whatever money Judas had in the money bag. Philip was apparently incredulous as he emphaticall
Read more

Nothing Left

"'What do you mean what's the matter?' Micah replied. 'You've taken away all the gods I have made, and my priest, and I have nothing left!" Judges 17, 18 Unaware of some purchases that my wife had made earlier in the day, I didn't even hesitate to use my debit card at the checkout line. However, our bank was fully aware of all those purchases as well as the one I was attempting to make at the present moment. Clearly, the math didn't add up. Something from nothing is something less than nothing and that, as it turns, is frowned upon by our aforementioned bank. In short, the bank told the merchant there was nothing left and the merchant told me, "Declined." Micah was one panicked individual. His personal little self-directed and self-centered religion was coming apart at the seams. He had idols. He had priests. He had a shrine and even a sacred ephod (a priestly garment). All this, he thought, secured the LORD's blessing. When the warri
Read more

Who is Jesus?

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15, 16 NIV) What are your thoughts about Jesus? Every major religion on earth has an opinion on who he was. Mostly they say that he was a good man, a powerful teacher, and a peacemaker. All of that is true. But what about him being the Son of God? Peter, after being with Jesus non-stop for 4 years was confident of his identity. He was assured that Jesus was God in the flesh, the Messiah that was to come. You essentially have three options when it comes to what you believe about Jesus: 1) He was a Liar 2) He was a Lunatic (out of his mind) 3) Or that He was Lord If he was, and is, Lord, then he deserves our worship and our entire lives. If Jesus is Lord, it is true that we have access to God by His sacrifice on the cross. Join us Friday night at 7, as we reflect on Jesus going to the cross for the sins of the entire world (Good Frida
Read more