All tagged child
Are we like children before God, or are we walking in our own independent self-righteousness? Do we say “I believe” and yet act like we are in control of our lives? Maybe we trusted God at one time, but have since taken those reins back from Him, and slowly, over time, found ourselves walking apart from Him. Do we know where we are spiritually? Are we uncertain how, and if, we can ever go home again? Well we can.
What will we become when Jesus returns? What awaits us in faith when we rise from slumber tomorrow, or for that matter, what does the next hour have in store for us? Our faith is not something that can be predicted or calculated, and God awaits around every bend with a new treasure.
Do we ask the right questions of Jesus, and if by chance we do, are we listening as we should 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 scripture as Jesus replies...
As Christian’s we like to refer to ourselves as the children of God, but before we first believed we were something quite different. The Bible refers to those who live in the flesh and carry out the desires of the body and mind as being children of wrath. And, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that even as Christians there are still those times when we find ourselves slipping away from righteousness and back towards wrath. Yes, even after we have come to believe we can find ourselves behaving less like children of God and more like the children of wrath once again. So, let’s ask ourselves a very important question today, “Which of these children are we right now?”
Do we live as members of Christ’s Kingdom, and serve our God as priests? Do our lives, as well as our words, shout out “Glory to God!”, and do we understand that the love of Jesus has made us to be, and to serve, in this capacity forever? We are not alone, nor held prisoners of sin, but have been made a holy kingdom, and freed by the blood of Christ to assume our place before God’s throne.
Are we childlike in our faith? Do we seek God with our whole heart each day? Do we obey His commandments without doubting, or veering from them? When we feel that we have sinned in some way is our contrition wholehearted, complete, and our desire for forgiveness asked with tears and heartfelt sincerity? God commanded us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, but are we prepared to apply this same degree of heart to every aspect of our faith?
When Jesus speaks a truth to our heart, or God reveals Himself to us by showing us his will for us, how do we receive them? Do we study what they have for us as we try to reconcile it to our existing lives, or do we accept it just as it is delivered... in all of its wonder, awe, and even mystery? How sad it is that so many believers have lost the open receptiveness that faith demands, and have allowed their need for “mature” understanding to overcome the trust, amazement, and acceptance of a child in their spiritual lives.