Momentous Menagerie

Jesus said that we need to be childlike. This includes both our faith and our approach to the Father. In fact, He was pretty adamant and said; "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)

He is NOT talking about salvation or where you go when you die. If you put your faith and trust in the accomplished and complete work of Jesus Christ, you can have assurance that when you die you WILL go to heaven (see Romans 10:9-13)

He is NOT talking about age, but rather, about HOW you approach and enter into the Kingdom of God each and every day here on earth. He is talking about the wonder and amazement of how children come to you and ASSUME that you DO want to be with them.

He is talking about how children dance like no one is watching, and laugh and play. Actually, they don't make good religious folk...they need to be taught that as they learn false things about our Good, Good Heavenly Father.

He is talking about how children ASK for things they want, but don't really need. This was driven home to me recently by a couple of our grandchildren.

We were about to watch a movie with them and they came into the room bringing EACH a PILE of stuffed animals and proceeded to line them up in a position so that they too could watch the movie.

I surveyed them and realized that several of them were new; which meant there was still a pile of them in the bedroom in which they were staying AND another pile in the family room where they had been playing!

I thought of a time a few weeks ago when Cathy and I, along with them and their parents, had been site seeing and stopped in a toy store. I was amazed at how unhesitant they were to pick out several stuffed animals and ASK their parents if they would purchase them. Mom and dad said "no" this time.

And yet, I have seen this on MANY occasions. Their posture wasn't about greed or covetousness; but rather about ASKING. They asked because that is what children do; they ask.

Oh and they actually believe that they will receive. No, not because they beg or whine or pout (my grandchildren don't do this). They ask because they have a history with their parent’s generosity.

As I said, approaching the Kingdom Of God isn't just about receiving; we're too super-spiritual for that....Or is it?

Have we been so adult-like that we don't even ask and anticipate that our Good, Good Heavenly Father will provide?

Jesus Himself said: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

This struck me today when I was reading Hebrews 11:6 which says:

"And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him."

Too often I will focus on: "impossible to please" and the word "sincerely"(NKJV use the word "diligently").

Today I saw the word "rewards" (NKJV uses the word "rewarder").

Basically, it comes from two Greek words that mean: to reward, give away, that is, up, over, back, etc. (in various applications): - deliver (again), give (again), (re-) pay (-ment be made), perform, recompense, render, requite, restore, reward, sell, yield.

Do you see the implication of the words screaming out "again"?

The writer is trying to communicate that EACH and EVERY time we approach our Good, Good Heavenly Father, He will make it worth our while! He is not put off by the repeated asking. He is not looking at "how many you already have". He is a REWARDER! COMPENSATOR! RESTORER! Over and over and over and over and over....

Children think this way; so they keep asking.

And Jesus is saying that you will never get into His Kingdom UNLESS and UNTIL you approach Him this way; like a little child...blindly trusting the Father's goodness, provision, care, and leadership in your life.

When you approach Him this way, you will be filled with an unshakable hope that He will provide for you an abundant life of righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17)

He is calling each of us into a greater lifestyle of the faith of a child. He is calling for you to trust Him for ALL that you need. He is calling for YOU.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.