04/21/2017
Do we ask the right questions of Jesus, and if by chance we do, are we listening intently to the answer... with the right heart?
The apostles studied under Jesus day and night, and yet, even they struggled to ask the right questions of Him. We see this when Philip asked if Jesus could show them the Father. Was it the right question to ask? Some say no, but let's listen to Jesus as He replies...
“Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?”
John 14:9 ESV
Philip gets lightly chastised for not coming to this realization himself, but then Jesus gives him the answer to the question. Philip gets the superficial answer he sought, and then he receives much more. Did he really listen to it? Are we still trying to listen to that response today and understand the depth of it? How is it that when we see Jesus we see the Father?
Questions like this are spoken in naïveté and are similar to the words of a child. They are innocent in their ignorance, and yet they show us to be more than babies... we are attempting to grow and understand in faith.
We are encouraged to approach our faith as a child would. We are to see the wonder in it without worry or doubt, and come to Jesus in humility, fully subjecting ourself to the Lord. Jesus speaks of this Himself:
“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. "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:3-6 ESV
So the questions we ask should be those of a child seeking the mysteries of life, but so often we study and see ourselves as scholars, then use our questions to define God, or, like the chief priests, to entrap Him in His own promises and law.
“And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"”
Matthew 21:23 ESV
Let's ask ourselves... is there wonder in me for Jesus? Do I ask Him questions with the heart of a child, or am I like a self centered scholar asking from the pride and selfishness of someone seeking to explain Him? Which are we? Which are we? Which are we?
It is difficult to put our studies in the right context, and to place God ahead of all else. The great sin of Satan is thought to have been pride and envy... this comes from familiarity and conceit, and can be a snare to us as well.
“He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
1 Timothy 3:6 ESV
Maintaining a child's heart and fascination is paramount to our faith. It is good to seek Him and understand His Word, but we must always ask questions in childlike humility and hear His answer through the ears of a child wanting to believe more than anything else in life. Total trust, total confidence, total subjugation, total humility, total admiration, and total and unfettered love.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the heart of a child. I thank you for being my Heavenly Father and guiding me in my life and faith. Like Jesus, I am indeed your child, and like a good child, I love and honor you with all my heart. Lord, as I grow in the knowledge of your Word, and in faith, never let me suffer conceit in that knowledge, or think I can speak for you in any matter. Help me Father to remain humble before you despite the power and gifts you bestow upon me. All things flow from you Father, and I should never mistake myself as deserving. Teach me Holy Father to love you like a child, teach me to anticipate your presence with wonder, teach me to approach you in awe, teach me to remain a child in my humble questions and hearing, but teach me always, and call me your child.
Rich Forbes