Become as Little Children

Mark 11:27-33

²⁷ They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸ “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

It was more important to the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders to be right than to actually know the question that they were asking Jesus. Jesus knew this and chose not to tell them because they were asking for the wrong reasons. I think this is something that we all can be challenged with. Do we want to know for knowing sake or do we want to know truth so that we can be transformed. It is from our desire to be transformed that we learn real truth, the transforming truth. Many scholars and theologians like to sit around and argue/debate matters for what reason? For some it may be to win and have bragging rights, some to boost their own ego and self-esteem and some because they truly feel that they are right and want to sway the other person, but none of the extra really even matters when we think about it. We see numerous times where Jesus was asked questions that he deemed unimportant simply by ignoring them or answering their questions with riddles. We have to stay focused on what is truly important and that is saving souls. We can debate predestination, tribulation, etc, but in the grand scheme of things do these topics really matter in regards to salvations? No, they will continue to be debated and opinions will continue to be evolved but at the end of the day,  are we sharing the simple gospel? Remember when Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment? Jesus’ reply was, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 22:37-40 NKJV) And then in Matthew 18 his disciples ask him, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Why do you think Jesus used this analogy? Little children don’t get caught up in all the extra, they are innocent and To go before God as a child is to go before God stripped of our sins and doubts, full of wide-eyed inspiration that comes from total faith. If one would question, “Is God going to be there when I need Him?” A child would say, “Yes!” To go before God as a child is to expect awe-inspiring greatness. Let’s visit Matthew 18:3 again. Jesus said, unless you change and become like a child. Webster’s dictionary describes “childlike” as “becoming a child; meek; submissive; dutiful.”  “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you change and  you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” God seeks a childlike submissiveness and meekness, a gleeful childlike heart … and a childlike faith.  Faith builds character, and the process starts when you are a child.  Why is it that as an adult one may have a tendency to become cynical with age?  This is because of all the hurts, the let downs, the lies and disappointments that begin to taint us and instead of continuing to live biblically with child like faith we learn the ways of the world and observe others and how they cope. Too, we begin to feed our flesh which loves misery and pain. If we didn’t love misery and pain wouldn’t we be quicker to release it? Or maybe we don’t release because we can no longer trust that God is good because if he was so good then all these bad things wouldn’t happen. The reasons we lose our child like faith can be multifaceted however we must challenge ourselves with the question, “Do we believe what the Bible says?” We must press in and resume with the childlike faith that we once had and begin to ask questions not for knowledge sake but for transformation of our own hearts. Out of our transformation and renewed restored faith we can in turn exemplify and share the true gospel. One that is nonjudgmental crossing, racial, political and denominational barriers, and one that is nonargumentative over unimportant things pertaining to religion and not salvation and reconciliation, discussing things that only bring division. (Religion is not of God, read Mt 23) Church we are being called back to the true gospel, one which requires a child like faith so that we can embrace all God has in store for the church to reap a great harvest in these last days.

Acts 2:17-21

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young will see visions.

Your elders will dream dreams.

18     Even upon my servants, men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

19 I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.

20 The sun will be changed into darkness,

and the moon will be changed into blood,

before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes.

21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

 

2 Peter 3:17-18

17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

Let’s reap the Harvest and be undistracted!!!!