Dear Ones:
We are apt to judge someone by their stature, either measured by their age, or their physical and intellectual capacity. What is the standard by which Jesus judges? It is the measure of their heart…that centermost, control center of the life, where the issues of life are embraced, rejected, believed, or shunned. And in this matter, age is not an issue, nor the height of one’s physical stature. For there the issue is whole-hearted trust, or of hesitant unbelief. On this holy ground, sometimes a child shines forth as an example, and proof, of the grace and kingdom of Christ, because the child may know no reservation in trusting Christ, while the adult has all the objections in the world.
In the ministry of the Lord Jesus, there came a day when folk who surrounded and accompanied Jesus, brought their children to Him, so that in putting His hands upon them, they would be blessed of Him. It was a wonderful act of faith by the parents, and so the children were blessed. But on this day, the disciples were not discerning enough to see what Christ saw…in the heart. He looked at the disciples around Him, and was very displeased that His disciples were rebuking the parents for bringing their children to Jesus. Christ then proceeded, as was His custom, to enlighten all involved concerning the spiritual realities before them. The first reality was: Christ is ALWAYS receptive to those who would truly come to Him. “Let the little children come unto Me.” (Mark 10:14) The second realty follows: The importance, and value, of a little child, cannot be measured. “…forbid them not.” The third reality: The simple heart attitude of a child is profoundly associated with the kingdom of God. For in the kingdom of God, faith reigns. And the faith of a child is without restraint, but simply entire. He/she believes simply and entirely…no discussion. And what does Christ say about the kingdom, and the heart attitude of the child? “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little Child, he shall not enter therein.” (v.15)
So, today, may God give us grace to be childlike in our attitude of heart towards Him. May He give us grace not to be childish, but childlike. And let us go on with a child-like heart to be the men and women God has called us to be. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Cor. 13:11)
Love, Dad