Like A Little Child

Written May 5, 2008

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say unto you, unless you become as little children, you will in no means enter the kingdom of heaven. . .’ Matthew 18:1-3 NKJV

“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them. . . ” Matthew 19:13-15a NKJV


Twice in a relatively short time Jesus spoke of children in relationship to the kingdom of heaven. What does Jesus mean by saying that we need to become like children to enter the kingdom of God? Are only people less than 18 years old allowed to enter? NO. All are welcome; it is our attitude and receptiveness that must be like a child’s.

As we look at the term “like a little child” let’s think about what a little child is like. Children in general are very trusting of those whom they meet. They take people at face value. That means that until you prove you can’t be trusted a child will believe EVERYTHING you tell them. And even after you have proven false, a child will still want to trust in you – although they “know” they shouldn’t. A little child will give you anything you ask for without question. They will also do anything you ask of them and usually the very first time you ask.

I remember when my children were little; we shared a house for a time with a friend and his children. This house was right across the street from our church and down the block was a mini mart where our children went each payday to buy candy. One month when it came time to give the kids their allowance so that they could walk to the “candy store” our friend, jokingly, told the children that there was no allowance this time because of the earthquake in San Francisco that week. The money had been swallowed up by the streets that disappeared. Well of the four children the boys, the two younger ones, believed our friend, but the girls, who were 2-3 years older, did not. Those little boys completely trusted our friend and believed everything he told them. But the girls, who had more experience with this type of teasing, were able to see beyond his joke to the real truth. This innocence is one of the attributes of a little child Jesus was telling the disciples they had to have in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. We have to take on faith – the faith of a child, full of innocence and wonder – all that Jesus tells us about the kingdom.

But in order to be the greatest in heaven takes even more of a childlike nature. We also have to do everything Jesus calls us to do, unquestioningly. I am sure you have heard of taking a “leap of faith”, right? Well our whole Christian walk is to be one “step of faith” after another, everyday.

When we get up each morning we should give our day to Jesus and ask Him how we are to spend it. But here’s the hard part, then we have to walk out in faith, believing what He has said and DO that which He has asked of us for the day. Not just on Sunday - or when we feel like it - but everyday. I know this is a hard task, I haven’t been able to do this myself consistently. I usually start my day in the Word and pray for a few minutes and head out the door to whatever may lie ahead. And some days are quite treacherous with all the pitfalls I run into, some caused by the enemy, but most of my own making for not having “inquired of the Lord” what He would have me to do. I guess this is because I feel I do the same things every day, so what difference does it make? But this kind of nonchalance will lead us in a direction we don’t – or shouldn’t - want to go. Many times we ask God to direct us, but we forget to “write down”, or listen to, His directions. In essence we go out the door without our road map. This is a waste of His time and almost the same as not asking for His direction in the first place. So why bother. Better yet, ask for His direction, write it down and/or memorize it, and actually follow His road map day by day, trusting that He knows the best pathways for us to follow. This is one of the things we need to do in order to be great in His kingdom.

So in order to be great in the kingdom of heaven we must be childlike. And to be childlike is to be obedient to, and trusting of, Jesus in all things. Great! Now we have a better understanding of that half. But what of the second reference that mentions being like a little child.



“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them. . . ” Matthew 19:13-15a NKJV

Can we gain a better understanding of this, too?

I think we can. This verse is telling us not to send the children away, because the kingdom of God full of people who are just like them. In other words those who live in God’s kingdom are childlike; they are obedient to, and trusting of, Jesus in all things.

So in order to be great in the kingdom of heaven - and even to live in it - we must be childlike. And to be childlike is to be obedient to, and trusting of, Jesus in all things. This is more difficult than we may think, for we will have to unlearn how to be “adult-like.” Most of us by the time we hit our teenage years we have lost our child-like nature. We no longer trust implicitly or obey quickly and without question. Now as believers this is exactly what Jesus is asking us to do, daily – moment-by-moment - at times. We need to be like the boys I mentioned earlier who trusted when they were told there was no allowance, innocently and without question. We also need to obey, following His direction in the same way your children follow you around. Doing what they see you doing and obeying what you tell them to do. Blindly and without question, fully believing He will always lead us in the right paths and that He will NEVER lead us to do the wrong things!

How childlike are you? I know I miss the mark – miserably!


When I first wrote this I felt like I was totally missing the mark on this area of being "like a little child." I would take - and still do - a quiet time alone with Jesus first thing most mornings before I ever got into the day's schedule, but I wasn't giving my day to God, seeking His direction, making note of it, and following it through out my day. Since I found this error in my devotional time I have made a point of actually taking the time to listen to and make note of what God is telling me for each day. While life still has it's struggles, I have found it more rewarding to actually have and follow the "road map" Jesus gives me when I have taken the time to receive it from Him each day. Yes I still have basically the same schedule daily, and yet I feel more "directed" in my prayer time and less "frazzled" by the roller coaster we call life when I have made this type of effort. Don't get me wrong, I am not perfect -- far from it. I am just striving to be more like the "little child" Jesus has called me to be. And that is the Lesson for Life I am currently learning.

Hope this blesses your life in some small way as it has mine.

Leigh

Are We Truly Forgiving?

* Matt. 18:21-35; “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say unto not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him all his debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and take him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but he went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, Oh thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

Are we truly forgiving?

Do we treats others the way God would have us to, or is it just lip service? God has been dealing with me lately about true forgiveness. So I am going to share with you what He has been showing me.
Now I know some of you are saying, “What! Me…forgive him? But, Leigh, you don’t know what I’ve been through. Why, just yesterday he___________________. How can I possibly forgive him for all of that!!!”
And yet this is exactly what we need to do to be healed of the pain we have suffered and released from the bonds of slavery that have chained us in this valley of despair we have resided in for so long. I long to break free! Don’t you?

Forgiveness isn’t for the person, or persons, who have wronged us. Oh it is important that they know they are forgivable, by us and by God. But, it is for our spiritual growth that we must learn to forgive. For we must be willing to drop our baggage at the side of the road before we can begin our journey into the heights with Jesus. So have faith in Him, cut your anchor chain and watch where He will lead you as you learn to trust Jesus and follow Him upon the mountains, up to the high places.

Jesus is our example of how we are to forgive. While He was dying on the Cross He uttered this famous prayer; "…Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing…" Luke 23:34 NIV

By this He was forgiving the Jewish leaders, the Roman government, soldiers, and the people caught up in the crowd watching. By this He brought salvation to all men, including those who murdered Him. By this He also forgave us before we were even a thought in our parents hearts. We, too, are sinners guilty of putting Him to death.

If you were the only person created by the Master, He still would have chosen to die in your place on Calvary. To endure every pain He felt in His body and in His spirit as a result of your sin and separation from Him, and in His death, His separation from God. And He still would have chosen to forgive you all you sins.

Forgiveness, like love, is a choice. It is an action and we have a part in that action. We must lay aside our hurt and pain to allow God to bring us through them. It is a very slow process and you won’t “feel” like forgiving at first. But we have to start with a choice.

Our choice needs to be followed quickly by our words; thought, spoken and written. I remember when I started homeschooling my children. My son had the hardest time learning many things. But we had a county teacher who came once a month to check our progress. I shared with him the struggles we were having. He told me something I have never forgotten. “Learning,” he said, “is done differently by each person. Some can read a process one time and can do it almost instantly. Others need to involve more sections of their brain to truly grasp many simple concepts. So use as many of the five senses as possible to assist in the learning process.” As we are “learning” forgiveness we will need to see, speak, hear and feel – by writing – this process of learning to forgive.

While making the choice to forgive, mentally add names, and faces, to this choice to make it more real in your heart. Speak your list to Jesus – OUT LOUD. Write the details of the hurts and pain experienced, and that you have made a choice to be forgiving to all those people for ALL the things you have suffered. And don’t forget to add your name to your list. Yes, your name. Believe it or not, you are harboring guilt and unforgiveness against yourself for allowing others to hurt you. Your choices may not make an immediate change within you. It will have to be repeated often; daily, sometimes moment-by-moment.

* Matt. 6:12-15 in the NIV says: "…Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, you’re heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins."

God gives us the choice to forgive. But, if we choose not to forgive, He in turn chooses not to forgive us. Our unforgiveness comes with a very heavy penalty. We can't scale the heights with Jesus, or enter into His Holiest of Holies, the very throne room of the fullness of God's presence. We would be stagnant in our spiritual liven not filled with the springs of living water. The abundant live He has promised us.


* Matt. 5:23-24 KJV says: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar. and there rememberest that thy brother has aught against thee; leave thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

The NIV says it this way: ''Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift. ''

The Lord says if we think that our brother is holding something against us, we are to go to that brother and work things out before we offer our gift to God. Our gifts to God are our purity of heart and thoughts.

* Matt 5:8 says; "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

It is also our worship and praise, which draws us into the very presence of God. I feel this place of praise and worship allows us to “see God” here on earth before we get to see Him face to face. But, if we can 't give Him our gifts, how can He dwell fully in our beings, ... in our very hearts? For God inhabits, He lives inside, the praises of His people.

Forgiveness is the very basis of our salvation. Without God's forgiveness we too would be outside of the kingdom. Zechariah prophesied of John the Baptist in Luke 1:76, 77

* In the NIV it reads: "And you, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.''

He was telling his family and friends that salvation would come through God's forgiveness and that John would lead the way to Jesus, who would bring that forgiveness. So if salvation is through forgiveness, and we are to follow Christ's example, how can we not forgive? It is a must!

Now that we have made the choice to forgive and used most of our senses to confirm our choice, it is time to put actions to our choice, and to our words. Saying "I forgive you, '' isn't enough. We must follow through with the actions and attitudes of heart that agree with our words. We must act toward that person – or persons – as if forgiveness is in full bloom in our hearts. Our feelings may be calling us “liar” or “hypocrite.” But our feelings are wrong. They are Satan’s tools to sabotage our choice to forgive, to keep us distracted and in bondage to our fears, hurts and pain. Our the actions will show that we are serious in our forgiveness, even if our "feelings'' aren't in agreement. If we trust God and walk out our acts of forgiveness, our feelings will follow. Then we will be in complete agreement; body, soul and spirit, in our forgiveness.

Let us remember that in our forgiveness we are NOT required to go back and submit again to the things that have hurt us in the past. But we are called to reconciliation. It is a time of solidifying the forgiveness that started in our hearts as a choice. Forgiveness and the subsequent reconciliation are designed to give us freedom to worship God in wholeness, causing us to grow in our faith in God. And to be released from the baggage we have carried around with us for so long; cuddling, and hugging because they were so familiar and “felt safe.” Forgiveness doesn't mean everything that has been done to us is OK and can be done to us all over again, or that we are not to put ourselves back into bondage to the person or persons who have hurt us. It is to lighten our load and allow us to leave our burdens at Jesus' feet. That is where they belong, anyway. Picking up that hurt and pain day after day is not only choosing to hurt ourselves again and again. And it is hindering our walk with God. We can't grow in our faith if we are all filled up with unforgiveness, hurt, and pain. There is no room left in our hearts for more of the Holy Spirit.

I've been working on letting go of the unforgiveness, hurt and pain in my life. I’ve been praying for the people in my past who have been a part of causing it. Asking God to teach them the truth and the way of salvation. And praying for blessings on them and their families. This has released me from the bondage of carrying around all that hate and bitterness. I actually feel a lot lighter of spirit, clearer of mind and not so tied up in knots throughout my body. It isn’t easy and doesn’t happen overnight. Satan will be standing right around the corner waiting to trip you up in this new choice you have made. So build landmarks; tangible mile markers as evidence to hold onto and be able to look back at to remember the promises of God and the progress you have made. Keeping a journal is one way to mark our progress. Jotting down your thoughts and prayers, or a bit of poetry & verse given by God’s inspiration. Or writing in the margins of your Bible beside verses He gives to encourage and lift you up.

* Isa 53:5, 6 says; "But, He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed…and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquities of us all."

If He has done this for us, He has done the same for them, too!

At the onset of this message I quoted a passage from Matt 18 where Peter asks our Lord how many times we are to forgive. In verse 22 he answered, “…I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Sometimes it will take seventy times seven. But, if we can learn to forgive 70x7 (490 times) then why not 491, or 492, or even 1000. This is the whole point Jesus was making.

Satan will try to goad us into renouncing our new commitment to learning true forgiveness. Be strong! And let’s stand by our choice to learn forgiveness. Pray often calling upon the name of Jesus in the tough times. Psalm 118:14 says; "The Lord is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation."

It is the beginning, of a new year. And we are in the month traditionally focused on loving others. Let's love them and ourselves, as well. Lets let go of whatever is hindering our spirits. If it is hate, hurt, pain, bitterness and/or unforgiveness, lets give it over to God. He will handle it so much better than we do. He forgives perfectly.

* Jesus said in Matt. 11:29, 30: "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

If we are to pick up His yoke - the load He carries - we must first put ours down. He will pick it up and put it in its proper place, under the Blood. And if we leave it with Him, He will take it far away, as far as the East is from the West. Lets make a new commitment with God to leave our hurt, pain, and unforgiveness at the foot of the Cross, picking up His yoke and His burden and letting Him carry ours.

Join me in making this and each new year a year of learning more of Jesus and His ways. And let us concentrate on TRUE FORGIVENESS as our starting place.

Written originally Feb 2007

Be Still And Know . . .

Psalms 46:10

Have you ever wondered what God meant when He said to “Be still and know that I am God?” This is the verse for April on my Calendar at my work station. And as I sat here at my desk, between customer calls, I began to wonder just exactly what this might mean. First I wanted to look at the context in which it was used. So I read Psalms 46.

This Psalm is a declaration of God and His awesome power and might.

In verses 1-3 it presents God to us as a Refuge, and Strength. And tells us we should not be afraid – even if the whole world should fall apart beneath us (my paraphrase).

The next stanza, verses 4-6, which starts out telling about a river that flows out from the tabernacle (dwelling place) of God. When I read the footnote reference in my bible in Ezekiel 47:1-12, I felt like this river was the blood of Jesus because it tells of how the water of the river would heal all that it touched. And Psalms tells that this river makes the city of God glad, and was the Holy Place of God’s tabernacle. This, again, is a picture of Christ’s atonement, for when He died on the cross the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom to allow ALL to enter in; and God is in the very middle of it all. He will hold his kingdom together so that it will not be shaken. Even if every nation on earth was preparing for battle against it, just the sound of His voice could melt the earth beneath their feet.

Verse 7 is very straight forward, it says that God is with us and is a place we can come to in times of trouble – like soldiers run to the fort when they are under attack.

Verses 8-9 tell us to come and “behold” the works of the Lord. This word “behold” means more than just “see” it implies to see with great attention, gaze upon, watch and discern. So when we “see” the works of the Lord, they should be something we long to watch with rapt attention to every detail. To gaze at intently on, not just glance over lightly. Then the Psalmist gives a description of a few of God’s wondrous works – He stops wars and destroys the weapons thereof breaking them into pieced and burning the very modes of transporting the armies in a great fire.

It is after this intent gazing upon God’s works that the Psalmist tells us in verse 10 to “be still and know that I am God.” So how are we to “Be still.”

The dictionary has many definitions for the word “still.” The ones that pertain to this reference are those of an adjective which are:

Remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary: to stand still. Free from sound or noise, as a place or persons; silent: to keep still about a matter. Subdued or low in sound; hushed: a still, small voice. Free from turbulence or commotion; peaceful; tranquil; calm: the still air, without waves or perceptible current; not flowing, as water.

For the purposes of this verse I feel “still” means: Free from turbulence or commotion; peaceful; tranquil; calm. But an adjective is a helping word; it adds more meaning to the verb, or action word, of the sentence; in this case “know.” So let’s look at the meaning of that word:

To perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty: I know the situation fully. To have established or fixed in the mind or memory: to know a poem by heart; Do you know the way to the park from here? To be cognizant or aware of: I know it. To understand from experience or attainment (usually fol. by how before an infinitive): to know how to make gingerbread. To be able to distinguish, as one from another: to know right from wrong. Archaic: To have sexual intercourse with. To be intimately close to; as in Jeremiah 31:34 “…for they shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord…”

Many of these definitions look like they would work, yet I think the best one for our purposes is: To be cognizant or aware of: I know it.

So let’s put these meanings together and see how our verse reads: “Be calm and free of commotion, very tranquil and be very aware, in that I AM God. I AM the one who can perform all of the acts mentioned here and much more….”

The rest of this verse says of God: “I will be exalted (lifted up, honored) among the nations. I will be exalted in all the earth!” So God tells us He will be honored (exalted) by everyone, by all of creation (in all the earth). Whether or not we have chosen to honor HIM with our lives of holiness, at the end of time when Jesus returns ALL will give HIM the honor that belongs only to HIM. But those who love and worship HIM should know this now and give HIM our best always.

The Psalmist goes on in verse 11 to tell us again that the Lord of host (hosts = God’s Heavenly Army and also the church) is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge (safe haven of protection like the army forts in old western movies.)

When we whole look at the whole Psalm my understanding of this passage looks like this:

PSALMS 46
(As I understand it)

1. God is my ever-present safe haven and the very strength of my life. Always ready to help me when I am in trouble.
2. I know I have nothing to be afraid of, even if the whole earth should fall apart and the mountains collapse into the oceans.
3. Even if all the rivers and oceans are full of high waves, and the mountains quake at their swelling forces. Stop and ponder this deeply (Selah).
4. The blood of Jesus flows from the heart of the church (the city of God) and washes away all sickness and disease, healing all who are touched by it. Calling the faithful to worship and be glad in His dwelling places (our bodies).
5. God is in the very middle of all this and we (His church and holy city) shall not be moved. God will help us as the sky lightens with the dawn of each day.
6. Even if all the nations call out their troops and wage war against Him, He will shout with a loud voice so mighty that it could melt the whole earth if He chose.
7. The Lord, God is with us, He alone is, was, and always will be our protection in difficult times. A safe haven to comfort us in times of need.
8. Come and intently gaze at, watch in sheer amazement, all the wondrous things God has done, is doing and will always do. He has even made desert places in the wilderness of the earth.
9. He makes wars come to an end by destroying the weapons being used, breaking them in pieces and even burning up the vehicles that are transporting the troops to the front lines.
10. Be calm, free of commotion, very tranquil and well rested, and be very aware that I AM God. I AM the one who can perform all of the acts mentioned here and much more. I will be honored (exalted) by everyone, by all of creation (in all the earth). Whether or not you have chosen to honor ME by living a life of holiness, at the end of time when I return ALL will give ME the honor that belongs to ME alone. But those who love and worship ME should already know and think on this deeply. And give ME your very best today and always!
11. The Lord, God is with us, He alone is, was, and always will be our protection in difficult times. A safe haven to comfort us in times of need.


So when all is chaos and turmoil round about you, “Be still and know that I am GOD!” Says Jesus.