Becoming More Child-like

I love observing my grandchildren’s reactions: sweet wonderment and surprise when learning anything new; so trusting when an adult tells them something; innocent and unaware of the evils of the larger world; and so utterly secure in their belief that they will have a roof over their heads when they lay down at night.

These are the elements of childhood I love best: wonderment, trust, innocence, and faith. But unfortunately life has a way of chipping away at them enroute to adulthood and most of us lose some, if not all, of these elements. 

But the very elements that make childhood so wonderful are also the very things that make for a rich spiritual life.  Jesus himself said we were to “become as little children” if we wished to enter the Kingdom of God. And that means we are to maintain our awe and wonderment about the God who created us; trust in Him; remain “innocent” and do not partake in the corruption of the larger world; and have faith that God can and will do all He promises in His Word.

But as in the physical realm where a child must eventually “grow up”, many Christians think that by replacing their “child-like” faith with a more cynical, sophisticated attitude toward scripture that they have grown up spiritually.  In reality they have only “dried-up.”

Jesus instructed us to remain child-like for a reason.  It was because the things of God are spiritually, not intellectually discerned.  One must approach God humbly, with a heart open to instruction.  One must be willing to lay aside preconceived ideas, pride, and the desire to do things “his” way. But because this is not a popular message in today’s pulpits, and because so much of society worships the intellect, we have a lot of “dried-up” Christians walking around.

One of the most spiritually mature believers I’ve ever read about is Brother Lawrence, a simple man who worked most of his life as a cook and who wrote the practice of the presence OF GOD. I’d dearly love to have even a fraction of his spiritual maturity.  His life illustrated what most believers yearn for, proving it was possible to have. It was a life full and rich, and spent in the company of Jesus.

Oh, Lord, that we might be more child-like!

Until next week,

Sylvia