04/21/2025
Do we ask the right questions of Jesus, and if by chance we do, are we listening intently to His 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
In this exchange 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 Jesus? 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 these are spoken in naïveté and are truly 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.
“Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.”
Psalm 25:5 ESV
We are encouraged to approach our faith as a child would. We are meant to see the wonder in it without worry or doubt, and come to Jesus in humility, fully subjecting ourselves to the Lord. Jesus speaks of this Himself when He says:
“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, not only are we to have the faith of a child, but we are to ask the questions of a child as we seek the mysteries of life, yet so often we study and see ourselves as scholars, then use our academic questions in an attempt to define God, or, like the chief priests, to entrap Him in His own promises and the law. When we do this aren’t we like children attempting to behave as adults but not knowing how?
“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 some simple questions... is there wonder in us as we seek Jesus? Do we ask Him questions with the innocence and heart of a child, or, are we like some self-absorbed scholar asking with pride and selfishness as we seek to show ourselves to be His equal, or perhaps His better? Are we asking Him craftily constructed questions to ensnare Him, or perhaps in ways that might impress Him with our intelligence? Do we haughtily expect Him to explain himself to us?... Who are we? Which are we? What are we?
It is difficult to put our spiritual studies in the right context, and to place God ahead of all else in us and our lives. The great sin of Satan is thought to have been pride and envy... and these characteristics often demonstrate themselves in familiarity and conceit. They can easily be seen in our attempts to sound mature or as if we are demanding an answer from an all-powerful and omnipotent God while assuming a position of authority over Him. If we are not careful we can find ourselves asking questions that are meant to trap God but which serve to ensnare us instead. Didn’t we hear this tone and see this intent as the chief priests and elders of the temple questioned Jesus in our previous bible verse (Matthew 21:23)?
“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 properly seeking knowledge in our faith. It is good to seek God and understand His Word, but we must always ask questions couched in childlike humility and hear the response through the ears of children who are wanting to believe more than anything else in life. Total trust, total confidence, total subjugation, total humility, total admiration, and totally unfettered love… Is this who we are when we sit at the feet of Jesus, or approach the throne of God?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the heart of a child. I thank you for being my Heavenly Father and for 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 my 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 in how I hear your responses, but teach me always with a kind and loving voice, and call me your child. In this way I will come to you singing Hallelujah in innocence, and with a humble heart say Amen.
Hallelujah! Great is my God and Jesus Christ. Hallelujah, and Amen to God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ his Son… who is my brother and joint heir in Him!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, and Amen.
Rich Forbes