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A Child Kind of Faith - Mark 10:14b-15"Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people that are like these little children. I tell you the truth. You must accept the kingdom of God like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it." (ERV) Full Text
Key ThoughtWe must have child-like faith to be a part of God's Kingdom. So many things about the Kingdom require of us a "dangerous innocence" and genuine humility. Yet Jesus demonstrated these child-like qualities. He wants us to travel along our religious journey as trusting children of God, not as worldly wise theologically astute scholars. Now don't take me wrong on this; we are not told to throw away our brains to become Christians. However, we are taught to live in a way that is often upside down to the world and its conventional wisdom. To do that, we need to go back and experience the gift of salvation, the magnificence of God, and the wonders of grace as wide-eyed, excitable children who trust in God's ways, God's love, and God's care. Today's PrayerToday's Verses in ContextPeople brought their small children to Jesus, so that Jesus could touch them. But the followers told the people to stop bringing their children to Jesus. Jesus saw what happened. He did not like his followers telling the children not to come. Jesus said to them, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people that are like these little children. I tell you the truth. You must accept the kingdom of God like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it." Then Jesus held the children in his arms. Jesus put his hands on them and blessed them. Jesus started to leave, but a man ran to him and bowed on his knees before Jesus. The man asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to get the life that never ends?" Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? No person is good. Only God is good. {But I will answer your question.} You know the commands: 'You must not murder anyone, you must not do the sin of adultery, you must not steal, you must not lie, you must not cheat, you must honor (respect) your father and mother….' " The man said, "Teacher, I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy." Jesus looked at the man. Jesus felt love for him. Jesus said, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor people. You will have a reward in heaven. Then come and follow me." The man was very sorry to hear Jesus say this, and he left. The man was sad because he was very rich {and wanted to keep his money}. Then Jesus looked at his followers and said to them, "It will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!" The followers were amazed at what Jesus said. But Jesus said again, "My children, it is very hard to enter the kingdom of God! And it will be very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God! It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle!" — Mark 10:13-25 (ERV)
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