“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” – Matthew 18:3
It was such a privilege to be together on Sunday to give thanks for our children, specifically Miri. I love the noise and life that our children bring to our church family. On Sunday, myself and Gwen highlighted the verse from Matthew 18, “….become like little children..” but what does that mean? I’ve spent a few moments thinking more about this and invite you to consider this in your time with God this week…
Let’s consider little Miri, she relies completely on her parents for everything. In the same way, I think God invites us to have complete dependence on Him, to let go of our adult striving for control. To learn to rest in His provision instead of striving in our own strength. Miri doesn’t worry about whether she will be fed or clothed, she has absolute certainty that her every need will be provided for. She has complete peace and has no need for worry. What freedom we would have if we could exchange our self sufficiency and worry for complete dependence and trust in God.
Miri is also just starting to take her first steps (off the scale cuteness!!). This involves lots of trips and stumbles. When she falls, she immediately cries out to her dad, she doesn’t wait, doesn’t ask several friends what she should do, or listen to 3 recommended podcasts for guidance!! She does what Jesus invites us to do: to cry out immediately to our dad, our Abba father. Mark tells us in his most vulnerable moments Jesus cried out ‘Abba father’ (Mark 14:36). Paul tells us to confidently call out ‘Abba Father’ (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6) and Jesus even tells us when we pray to say ‘father, Abba, daddy’ (Matthew 6) This is a challenge for those of us with distant fathers to understand but a good ‘daddy’, our perfect ‘dad’ is there ready and waiting.
I also suggested on Sunday that children like to ask ‘why’ and often many times! (Luke and Emma, that day is coming!!) I don’t think God minds our ‘whys’ in fact I think He welcomes them as a way to build relationship with Him. In the Psalms David asks ‘why’ many times and he’s bold in his questioning of God. It shows an intimate relationship where he feels safe pouring out his deepest frustrations to God. Maybe to ‘Go Deeper’ we could try that this week, sharing our complete selves. God knows anyway but He wants us to include Him. (For more see: https://www.embracing.life/article/when-you-find-yourself-asking-god-why)
Back to Miri, one of the first words I have heard her say has been ‘wow’. Children marvel at little things. They find delight in little things. Maybe we could also be more like little children this week and notice the ‘wow’ in what God has created, what He’s done in our lives and what He continues to do!
Finally I loved Emma’s Midweek Musing about the sloppy wet kiss and the ‘messy’ way God chose to meet with us. I know from experience, as many of you do, that God meets us in our mess. A messy, muddy or food covered Miri will, without hesitation, climb onto her daddy’s lap, confident she will be welcomed with a kiss. In the same way, let’s try this week to be like little children. Run to our Abba father with our mess and our questions, confident that He will love us and meet our every need.
