Become Like Children: Luke 18:15-17
“15) And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16) But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17) Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”” Luke 18:15-17
Jesus loved Children. Ministering to them and blessing them was prevention of a ruined life. Children have a bold and courageous faith. They believe without being double minded, doubting or rationalizing.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them because they have sincere faith and belief. They accept the Word of God at face value. They believe, live and do what’s written in the New Covenant.
The longer I am a believer, the more I am working at returning to child-like faith. My years of formal education and theological training often work against me. My church tradition and usual way of seeing or doing things amounts to excess bandage.
Embracing the ways of the kingdom of God has demanded much unlearning on my behalf. Instead of filtering the Bible through a theological grid, I am starting to filter my theology grid through the Bible. Honestly, this has been a huge and difficult task!
What is child like faith? It can be summarized as reading Gods Word, taking it at face value and then living and doing accordingly. This is the purest form of kingdom living.
Adults have two problems with kingdom living. First, we do and add all kinds of things not written in the Bible. We filter the Bible through the lens of secular psychology, self-help gimmicks, current scientific theory or modern medicine. These amount to kingdom faith killers.
Second, we explain away and ignore all kinds of things clearly written in the Bible. We filter the Bible through the lens of naturalism and then quickly conclude; “God no longer works that way.” This kills the supernatural world view the Bible and kingdom living is built on.
Children don’t suffer from those two tendencies. They see, hear and do what’s written in the Bible. When our faith returns to the sincere simplify and obedience of a child, the church will start experiencing kingdom signs and wonder again.
This is the simple answer as to why the early church was so dynamic and why God seems to be doing so much more in undeveloped countries than in the western church today. They have child like faith!
We twist, complicate and explain away kingdom dynamics. The western church is turning out biblical skeptics and kingdom doubters by the millions.
This may sound simplistic, but these three verses are profound. We must become like children if we desire to enter into the dynamics of kingdom living. It is possible to be religious but empty and void of spiritual power.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“15) And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16) But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17) Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”” Luke 18:15-17
Jesus loved Children. Ministering to them and blessing them was prevention of a ruined life. Children have a bold and courageous faith. They believe without being double minded, doubting or rationalizing.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them because they have sincere faith and belief. They accept the Word of God at face value. They believe, live and do what’s written in the New Covenant.
The longer I am a believer, the more I am working at returning to child-like faith. My years of formal education and theological training often work against me. My church tradition and usual way of seeing or doing things amounts to excess bandage.
Embracing the ways of the kingdom of God has demanded much unlearning on my behalf. Instead of filtering the Bible through a theological grid, I am starting to filter my theology grid through the Bible. Honestly, this has been a huge and difficult task!
What is child like faith? It can be summarized as reading Gods Word, taking it at face value and then living and doing accordingly. This is the purest form of kingdom living.
Adults have two problems with kingdom living. First, we do and add all kinds of things not written in the Bible. We filter the Bible through the lens of secular psychology, self-help gimmicks, current scientific theory or modern medicine. These amount to kingdom faith killers.
Second, we explain away and ignore all kinds of things clearly written in the Bible. We filter the Bible through the lens of naturalism and then quickly conclude; “God no longer works that way.” This kills the supernatural world view the Bible and kingdom living is built on.
Children don’t suffer from those two tendencies. They see, hear and do what’s written in the Bible. When our faith returns to the sincere simplify and obedience of a child, the church will start experiencing kingdom signs and wonder again.
This is the simple answer as to why the early church was so dynamic and why God seems to be doing so much more in undeveloped countries than in the western church today. They have child like faith!
We twist, complicate and explain away kingdom dynamics. The western church is turning out biblical skeptics and kingdom doubters by the millions.
This may sound simplistic, but these three verses are profound. We must become like children if we desire to enter into the dynamics of kingdom living. It is possible to be religious but empty and void of spiritual power.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
