To
bring us back to Matthew 18:2-3, I am pretty sure the previous
situation explains what that verse really means. I was the one who was
confused, sad, and broken hearted. I was the one putting God into a box
of my rationale and understanding. I was the one confused on prayer
and the way things work. It was my developed complicated adult mind
that missed the Kingdom of God in this situation because I was making it
into something it wasn't.
My
child simply believes God, she thinks He is nice, helpful, loving, and
she still thinks He answers prayer. I learned a lot from my child that
day, and after my conversation with her this verse popped into my head.
I understood what being childlike was like, and even though it was
simple it was also powerful. People always associate children as being
weak, and that is an unfair assessment. We compensate our weakness with
manipulation, power, and false confidence, children are simply strong.
They are strong in their minds, hearts, and will...I mean anyone that
is a parent knows the strength of a child's will.
There
is all kinds of hurting going on right now within the walls of Gods
Kingdom. There are real hurtful situations happening to people I know
personally. Many of my friends have lost their ministry job, some have
been hurt by betrayals, and others are burnt out and tired. Maybe, just
maybe we could all use a lesson in childlikeness. I mean how awesome
would it be if us adults stopped questioning and doubting God and
instead put that sort of effort into prayer?
Lets
never question Gods position in the world, lets question our own. Lets
not question Gods love for us, lets question our own love. Lets not
question why God doesn't work in peoples lives, lets question why we
wont help people with their lives. Lets not question whether or not God
answers prayer, lets question our own resolve to pray. Its my opinion
that this is the deep stuff of Matthew 18, yet the reason we don't live
like this is still reduced down to a shallow canned retort. You know we
would say something like this “we are the problem not God.” I mean how
does that help anything? I know Gods is ok and secure and I know that I
am messed up. I especially don't need somebody else telling me I am
messed up.
Finally
lets stop looking at children as annoyances, or being too simple minded
to understand real life situations. I have learned a lot about God and
relationships simply by watching my children. Life is complicated,
messy, beautiful, and awful all at once, but it can be something
profound when viewed with eyes of a child. That my friends is how we
embrace Gods Kingdom. Its something that can only be understood with a
childlike mind, faith, and heart.
Stop
making it hard, and do a little more feeling and trusting. Shut down
the mind, believe, and pray a little more. We need to try and use our
hearts a little more and our minds a little less. After all this is how
we are made, we were made to have a relationship with God, yet our
minds make it so much more complicated that what it ever should have
become.
The
fact that my friend Kevin had died, is difficult and hard to
understand. The cool thing is that praying for his families comfort has
brought me comfort. Like so many other things its in the serving and
the giving that we ourselves find answers and peace. I want to
challenge everyone to take time to connect with God in prayer and
worship. Stop making it difficult and just do it. Let me close by
quoting the great philosopher Yoda. When it comes to embracing Gods
Kingdom and thinking like a child, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
The Franklin Voice
Franklin, Ohio 45005
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