Matthew 18:2-5 says “He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” (NIV)
In the King James Version, verse 4 says “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
The past few days I’ve been thinking about how the Bible says to pray without ceasing.
He wants us to praise Him, worship Him. He wants us to make a joyful noise to Him but the Bible says to pray without ceasing. He wants to talk to us regularly throughout the day. He wants a relationship with us. He doesn’t just want the worship to be focused on Him. He wants every moment to be focused on Him and what He can add to it. When God is with us, we cannot fail but we have to ask Him to come along with us, not just daily but in every moment of each day.
My father-in-law has not always attended church. He did when he was a kid but stopped sometime after that until more recent years. In the past few years that he has been back in church, I’ve heard him say several times that he talks to God out loud. I have been around to hear it sometimes too. I’m sure he sounds silly to some, talking out loud just to say “I hope it’s sunny today Lord” or “thank you for the sunshine” but he really feels God is right there listening to Him. His faith in some ways is still young but it’s so childlike.
As Christians we are to continue to learn and grow and become more Christ like as we mature in our faith but Jesus also said to be like the little children. Sometimes as we age and grow in our faith, we also complicate things more than they need to be. We need to mature and learn but also remember to be humble and eager to spend time with God, like a child eager to spend time with his daddy.
My father-in-law has been receiving a lot of compliments lately. His health is declining and family has been regularly visiting him and telling him how much they love him. He seems very thankful to see everyone and feel all their love but he also has had a lot of compliments from the staff of the hospital, rehab facility, etc. Everyone has been telling him, and us, how sweet he is and how much they’ve enjoyed getting to know him and care for him. He seems so surprised to hear them all talk that way. He’s so humble about it and just says thank you. He’s not sure why they’re saying that but I know why.
They say those things because it is partly their job but also because he jokes around with them, is light hearted and nice to them even when they’re getting on his nerves, which is hard to do when you don’t feel good. He has his moments like anyone when he’s irritable and wants left alone but he still shows them kindness. That’s why they say those things. It makes their very difficult job easier when their patient isn’t being mean or picking on them all the time.
I can’t help but see how Jesus has effected his life. How at one point we may have been unsure of the condition of his heart but now, even though his physical heart is failing, his spiritual heart is full of faith, childlike faith. He knows he doesn’t deserve forgiveness (none if us do) but he knows God has forgiven him and he will be with him in heaven. He is eager to be with Jesus. Eager to see his brother Jack again. Eager to know God more.
Are you eager to know God more? To spend more time with him? Is He a priority in your life?
I remember a time that my father-in-law didn’t go to church and didn’t talk about God. In the past few months, in the beginning of him starting to not feel well, he hated any time he had to miss church. Now as his health is declining, he hopes he can go one more time. What a change in priority. A simple change really. We sometimes think we have to make huge changes and all at once but really God calls us to just believe and to come to Him. Spend time with Him and choose to continue to grow closer to Him. Like a child who wants to be with and learn from their parents, we just have to be eager to spend the time building that relationship and allowing ourselves to grow.
Make Him your priority. You won’t regret it. All it takes is believing and a simple shift in priorities.
A View of Life Through an Amber Lense 