Being a grandparent is a blast! In the last few weeks, I’ve played with puppets, run through mazes, slid down slides and experienced the awe and wonder of observing elephants at the zoo all over again. I love the simple joy of a child’s heart.
Interestingly, Jesus said that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children. Think about the attributes of little children. They tend to:
- Live with faith.
- Love generously.
- Depend on their mommy and daddy.
- Be filled with wonder.
- Laugh freely.
- Cry when they are hurt.
- Require grace.
- Ask for what they want.
- Persist.
- Believe, hope, dream.
Jesus’ words had a bit of a shock-value to the religious leaders of the day. The pompous, rule-following Pharisees prided themselves on their own self-righteousness and personal perfection, while children were considered undeserving and lowly. Perhaps that’s exactly why Jesus chose a humble child as His example of what a follower of Christ really looks like.
Reflect for a moment on the simple and pure faith of a child. Isn’t it wonderful to think that it is this kind of faith that brings us into a relationship with God and transforms our lives?
What about you? In what ways do you reflect a childlike faith as you come to your loving Heavenly Father? Take a look at the list above and consider what qualities you want to develop as you trust in Jesus and walk your journey of faith.