Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
Mark 10:13-16
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
Recently while I was back home in Dallas I found a couple of old yearbooks from the 1999-2000 school year. At that time I was in the 2nd grade at Eastlake Christian School. As you could probably imagine, my time flipping through the pages of the yearbook was fun to say the least. As I looked at pictures of “Chilly Bowl” haircuts and other late 90s style trends displayed in the pictures I couldn’t help but to reflect on my childhood and all the good memories I had.
Most of the good memories had involved my parents taking me to soccer games and “fancy” places to eat such as CiCi’s pizza and Ryan’s. Within all of those moments was the genuine thought of how I was completely dependent upon my parents for everything. I simply trusted that they were going to take me to soccer practice and games on time. I depended on them to take care of my needs and fully trusted they would.
Oh the wonders of being a child. One of the greatest qualities in a child is their total dependence on their parents and the faith they are able to possess in them. Jesus speaks to that quality in Mark 10. The disciples saw the children being brought to Jesus as a bother but Jesus saw them as a joy. He then makes such a powerful statement: Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not inherit it! WOW! The statement was seen as countercultural during the day. The religious leaders spoke to the need for knowledge, fame and status as a means of inheriting the Kingdom, but Jesus states that actually it’s the believer who chooses to have faith like a child that actually inherits the Kingdom.
What does it mean to have faith as a child? Just as a child is dependent upon their parents for life, so too is the believer making the choice to be dependent upon the Lord. What that takes is us choosing to understand our need for Him daily and submitting to Him as Lord and King every day of our life. It speaks to living life open-handed before the Lord, and declaring with our lips and our life that you are about living for His will and not your own. As we know we did not come to faith by our own acumen, our heritage, or our gifting. We came to faith by laying down our lives and surrendering to Jesus. Just as we received Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our call is to continue to lay our lives down, and look to Him as our Source and our Lord.
So the question today is this: Jesus your Lord today? What do you need to lay down today that is taking up that space as Lord that Jesus rightfully deserves? When we make Him Lord is when we possess child-like faith, exhibiting our dependence upon Him.
PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for saving me! Help me to put you first everyday of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
James 5:16- Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.