Like Children

Col.3:14a, “ . . . put on love, . . .”

After a church meeting one Sunday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, some kids were running around in the church yard.  Some had ventured outside the fence.  One boy's Mom called him and he immediately came.  This surprised me (especially as it was THAT kid).  She told him to put his coat on for it was cold out, so right away he held the end of his sleeve in his hand and assumed the position – the universal salute of a kid submitting to having his coat put on by Mom.  He had a thoroughly Biblical world view, I thought.

Mom dressed up her boy and told him to go play but stay where she could see him.  Wow.  This struck me as profound.  I need to be like that toward my Father.  I need to immediately obey, and come when He calls me.  I need to submit to Him dressing me -- “Put on Christ,” the Bible says, “put on Love.”  I need to enjoy myself, but stay where He can see me (or rather, where I can see Him).

What does it mean to be child like (as opposed to childish) before God?

Matt. 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to Him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Verse 3 “like CHILDREN, ” but verse 4 “like THIS CHILD.”  Even among children there was something unique about this particular child.  What?

1. Jesus called and the child came to Him.
   
   
2. He evidently trusted Jesus.
   
   
3. He obeyed, but not out of ambition to be great – simple, immediate obedience.
   
   
4. He was with the Lord.
   
   

Kingdom greatness is humility like THAT child.

Recognize greatness in such a child – submissive, obedient, dependent, relaxed in Jesus' arms. Here is both rest and work, sabbath and service -- achieving Kingdom greatness by resting in Him (His yoke is easy and His burden is light).

I'm blessed with five, awe-inspiring children. They teach me what it means to be like a child. I admire their tremendous capacity for JOY.

Many years ago, Vicky was about three, we were living in Calcutta.  In the “winter” we were visiting a cooler place in the Darjeeling hills.  She didn't have any warm clothes so I went and bought her a little sweater that buttoned up the front.  It was clean and crisp and wrinkle free – she looked so sweet in it.  I could have wrapped her in a pillow case or something, but I wanted her to be both warm AND smartly dressed.  She wasn't so excited about the practical necessity of a sweater, but I also got her a little bag of potato chips with an exciting message on it.  I told her “Look Vicky, it says 'special surprise inside!'” (a sticker or something).  She started ecstatically dancing around, clapping! “Oh! A SPECIAL SURPRISE! I'm so HAPPY!” she said.  It doesn't take much to evoke joy in kids.  They come ready for it.  A parent learns how to work this and delights in seeing kids have fun.  I may be wrong in transferring my own attitudes toward kids onto God, but I think His heart is like that toward us.

JOY.  I want to be ready for Joy.  The cold weather is coming.  Bundle up.  Look smart.  God has treats and special surprises in store for you.

I want to encourage you to come to the Lord like a child.  Grab your sleeve.  Get your Love on.  Then enjoy yourself, but be sure to stay where He can see you.  Do your service WITH JOY, with Him.  That amounts to greatness and real achievement in His Kingdom.