by Dona Hake
I love being with little children. I love their energy and imagination as well as appreciating their personalities in development. Today I had an experience that caused me to walk away thinking about why Jesus said we need to be like little kids.
I was shopping and I noticed this little girl that was about four years old trying to push her mommy’s cart through the store. As I was standing in line to check out, this little girl and her mommy were in front of me. I said to the little girl, “Wow, you have really been such a great helper to your mommy today!” The precious little thing looked into my eyes but did not respond one word to me. I totally understood what was happening but the poor mother was so embarrassed. This little one was purposely letting me know that she was not going to acknowledge me. Her mother began to apologize and she said, “Oh my, I am realizing why she is doing this. She is not talking to you because I have told her she is never to talk to strangers.” I immediately began to affirm the mother and let her know that this is a good and important thing to teach our children. Sadly in this day and age we need to be ever so careful.
I learned from this little incident and walked away once again reminded that Jesus desires we be as children. I thought about how this little girl immediately recalled the teaching of her mother and she obeyed what she had been taught. She knew in her little heart that what her mother taught her was to keep her safe.
God has set up his commandments and things for us to live by in His Word. They are there for our protection and to live a life of full of blessing and abundant peace. In our times in which we think we know better than God, we can stray from His commands because we think we are “too grown up” for such rules. Let us look at a scripture that will reinforce what I am sharing.
Proverbs 4:3-6
(ERV)
When I was my father’s little boy and my mother’s dear son, my father taught me this: “Pay attention to what I say. Obey my commands and you will have a good life. Try to get wisdom and understanding. Don’t forget my teaching or ignore what I say. Don’t turn away from wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe.”
God desires we keep humble hearts and totally dependent upon Him. He desires we hold fast to the words that have been spoken into our lives by those that love us. In those times He is tugging your heart to obey and you feel to go your own way, consider the possibility that you are being wise in your own eyes and you need to just simply need to obey Him, and turn from your own way. Let us remain as a child.
Matthew 18:4 (CEB)
Those who humble themselves like this little child will
be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
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