July 14, 2017 (Friday)
Jesus urged us to be childlike. He wants us to behave like little children–kind, affectionate, obedient, accepting and loving. “Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them; and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven” belongs to such as these. And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there….” (Matthew 19:13-15 BSB).
On the other hand, Jesus expressed displeasure for those who were childish. He scolded the religious leaders for behaving like children: “They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep'” (Luke 7:32 NIV). Their hurtful actions reflected their woeful immaturity. They were, after all, leaders, and their office demanded personal maturity and fairness to others.
Are we childlike or childish? We are childlike when we feel safe in the arms of Jesus and want to be like Him, but we are childish when we are self-centered, petulant, acquisitive, and impulsively angry.
Having been “born anew,” we need to grow. “.. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV).
Jesus taught us to pray to “Our Father.” We are His children. What kind of children are we?
