Unless you become like little children….
Childlike trust in God…it sounds so easy, but how many of us have tried and found it to be so difficult? We cling to control over our lives. We cling to what we know. Somehow being 'in control' - no matter what a mess we make of it - seems to be far more preferable than handing over the reins to the One whose power can do infinitely more in us than we could ever ask or imagine.
People even brought babies to him, for him to touch them; but the disciples scolded them. But Jesus called the children to him and said. 'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. In truth I tell you, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' (Luke 18:15-17)
For it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
It stands to reason then, that we should be like little children. This does not mean that we should be childish, on the contrary, we should try to be childlike in our relationship to God. What does this mean in real terms?
Childish and childlike are opposing terms. Childish is a negative attribute. Childlike is positive. To be childlike is to be open and receptive to the presence of God in our lives; to love him, to trust him and to place all our hope in him. It means listening to his Word with childlike wonder and acceptance. It means being obedient to his promptings, safe in the sure knowledge that he knows best. It means trusting his judgement and asking for his help in times of need. It means humbly acknowledging our own weakness; our own failings. It means handing over our messes to him knowing that he can sort it out. At the beginning of his gospel St. John makes it clear that we are all children of God.
The Word was the real light
That gives light to everyone;
He was coming into the world.
He was in the world
That had come into being through him
And the world did not recognise him.
He came to his own
And his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
He gave power to become children of God (John 1:9-13)
As already quoted, Paul says that the 'power of God, working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.' That power, however, will only 'work in us' if we surrender to it.
How do we do that? How do we surrender to the power of God our Father working in us? Let's try to imagine for a moment….
Imagine what it would be like to bathe in the Dead Sea. Some of you will have had that very experience. But for those who have not - the Dead Sea is so salty that it is like soup. It is nice and warm. Anyone can feel safe to float in it. Even non-swimmers who can't float will float in it! All you have to do is remember this. Trust in the knowledge that anyone can float in the Dead Sea, and lie back. This is a big step - especially if you have fear of going under. But, if you lie back in the Dead Sea, your body weight will be supported, and you will float. Close your eyes and you will have a sense of being suspended - being supported.
Trusting in God is a bit like that. At first, we doubt. Then we are tentative. But, once we take the plunge, once we step out in faith, then his power can be released in us. He will uphold you, support you, and give you a sense of certitude in his saving power. Once we have taken that first childlike step in faith, the Kingdom of heaven will be ours.
John's gospel tells us 'to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God.' Acceptance of God as loving Father is therefore the first step in our Christian journey. That very acceptance gives us power to become his children; to be supported by him; to be cared for in every aspect of our daily lives. And, does a Father not shower his children with gifts?
And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some prophets; to some, evangelists; to some pastors and teachers; to knit God's holy people together for the work of service to build up the Body of Christ, until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God and form the perfect Man fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.
Then we shall no longer be children, or tossed one way and another, and carried hither and thither by every new gust of teaching, at the mercy of all the tricks people play and their unscrupulousness in deliberate deception. If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow completely into Christ, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each individual part to work according to its functions. So the body grows until it has built itself up in love.' (Ephesians 4:14-18)
Our strength is in him, the Father who loves us first, so that we might love him. Let us all, once in a while, take the time to bask in that love. Take a few moments just to savour the presence of God in our lives. Take a few seconds to hand over difficult situations to him, so that his power may work in us.
'Finally grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. Put on the full armour of God so as to be able to resist the devil's tactics…..so stand your ground, with truth a belt round your waist, and uprightness a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to quench the arrows of the evil one. And then you must take salvation as your helmet and the sword of the Spirit, that is, the Word of God.' (Ephesians 6:10-17)
Let's just ponder for a moment on Paul's prayer, which is my prayer for you all this month.
'This then is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every fatherhood in heaven or on earth takes its name. In the abundance of his glory may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God's holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God.
Glory be to him whose power working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)
Childlike trust in God…it sounds so easy, but how many of us have tried and found it to be so difficult? We cling to control over our lives. We cling to what we know. Somehow being 'in control' - no matter what a mess we make of it - seems to be far more preferable than handing over the reins to the One whose power can do infinitely more in us than we could ever ask or imagine.
People even brought babies to him, for him to touch them; but the disciples scolded them. But Jesus called the children to him and said. 'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. In truth I tell you, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' (Luke 18:15-17)
For it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
It stands to reason then, that we should be like little children. This does not mean that we should be childish, on the contrary, we should try to be childlike in our relationship to God. What does this mean in real terms?
Childish and childlike are opposing terms. Childish is a negative attribute. Childlike is positive. To be childlike is to be open and receptive to the presence of God in our lives; to love him, to trust him and to place all our hope in him. It means listening to his Word with childlike wonder and acceptance. It means being obedient to his promptings, safe in the sure knowledge that he knows best. It means trusting his judgement and asking for his help in times of need. It means humbly acknowledging our own weakness; our own failings. It means handing over our messes to him knowing that he can sort it out. At the beginning of his gospel St. John makes it clear that we are all children of God.
The Word was the real light
That gives light to everyone;
He was coming into the world.
He was in the world
That had come into being through him
And the world did not recognise him.
He came to his own
And his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
He gave power to become children of God (John 1:9-13)
As already quoted, Paul says that the 'power of God, working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.' That power, however, will only 'work in us' if we surrender to it.
How do we do that? How do we surrender to the power of God our Father working in us? Let's try to imagine for a moment….
Imagine what it would be like to bathe in the Dead Sea. Some of you will have had that very experience. But for those who have not - the Dead Sea is so salty that it is like soup. It is nice and warm. Anyone can feel safe to float in it. Even non-swimmers who can't float will float in it! All you have to do is remember this. Trust in the knowledge that anyone can float in the Dead Sea, and lie back. This is a big step - especially if you have fear of going under. But, if you lie back in the Dead Sea, your body weight will be supported, and you will float. Close your eyes and you will have a sense of being suspended - being supported.
Trusting in God is a bit like that. At first, we doubt. Then we are tentative. But, once we take the plunge, once we step out in faith, then his power can be released in us. He will uphold you, support you, and give you a sense of certitude in his saving power. Once we have taken that first childlike step in faith, the Kingdom of heaven will be ours.
John's gospel tells us 'to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God.' Acceptance of God as loving Father is therefore the first step in our Christian journey. That very acceptance gives us power to become his children; to be supported by him; to be cared for in every aspect of our daily lives. And, does a Father not shower his children with gifts?
And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some prophets; to some, evangelists; to some pastors and teachers; to knit God's holy people together for the work of service to build up the Body of Christ, until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God and form the perfect Man fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.
Then we shall no longer be children, or tossed one way and another, and carried hither and thither by every new gust of teaching, at the mercy of all the tricks people play and their unscrupulousness in deliberate deception. If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow completely into Christ, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each individual part to work according to its functions. So the body grows until it has built itself up in love.' (Ephesians 4:14-18)
Our strength is in him, the Father who loves us first, so that we might love him. Let us all, once in a while, take the time to bask in that love. Take a few moments just to savour the presence of God in our lives. Take a few seconds to hand over difficult situations to him, so that his power may work in us.
'Finally grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. Put on the full armour of God so as to be able to resist the devil's tactics…..so stand your ground, with truth a belt round your waist, and uprightness a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to quench the arrows of the evil one. And then you must take salvation as your helmet and the sword of the Spirit, that is, the Word of God.' (Ephesians 6:10-17)
Let's just ponder for a moment on Paul's prayer, which is my prayer for you all this month.
'This then is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every fatherhood in heaven or on earth takes its name. In the abundance of his glory may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God's holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God.
Glory be to him whose power working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)
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