Back
in 1980-something were two little girls. Sisters. The younger one thought the older
one to be very wise and would listen to all she said as if it were gospel
truth.
Little Sister was still learning how to operate a cassette tape player. Big Sister had
already mastered this fine art and decided to play teacher.
She
pointed to each of the buttons, explaining what they were for. The little arrow
meant ‘play’. The two lines meant ‘pause’. The square was for ‘stop’. ‘REW’ was
to rewind the tape, while ‘FF’ would fast forward it. Little Sister listened
carefully.
Pointing
to the ‘REC’ button, Big Sister became very serious. Lovingly but firmly she made very clear that
one must never ever push this particular button. No matter how badly tempted or curious.
For you see the letters REC when sounded out say “r-eh-k” which is exactly what would happen to the
cassette tape and player should this button be pushed.
For a
long time afterwards Little Sister treated that button with great reverence.
While it puzzled her that the manufacturer would include such a bizarre
function, she heeded the advice given and left it well alone…
Mark
10:13-16 People brought their small children to Jesus
so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them. But the followers told
the people to stop bringing their children to him. Jesus saw what happened. He
did not like his followers telling the children not to come. So he said to
them, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because God's kingdom belongs to people who are
like these little children. The
truth is, you must accept God's kingdom like a little child accepts things, or
you will never enter it." Then Jesus held the children in his arms. He
laid his hands on them and blessed them. (ERV)
So how does a little child accept things? What
does it mean to have faith like a child?
Young children are typically
humble. They do not see themselves as greater than another. They are in a
position of obedience rather than authority.
Matthew 18:4
The greatest person in God's kingdom is the one who makes himself humble like
this child.
They are
accepting. This is not permission for ignorance though (we are called to know
what we believe and why - 1 Peter 3:15). Rather, this speaks of a ready acceptance
of God’s promises; having faith in His abilities and power. We do not need to
be grand philosophers to come to Him. Simple faith is all that is required.
Trust and obey.
It
all sounds too easy doesn't it?
Sometimes our adult minds want to fluff it up and add a few rules. Over complicate things. When God gives us direction we sit and have a big evaluation
session. We want to know what, why and how. And somehow in the so doing, we
lose sight of faith.
I seek
God and want to know everything. A detailed plan. But He keeps bringing me back
to simple faith. If He said he would do something then He will. That is all.
What is
God asking you to trust Him with today?
