Children don't see the world the same way we do as adults. Younger children in particular see with much more clarity of vision. They haven't yet learned to filter what they see. As adults we do this far too much. Consider what we see on social media these days, where you can take a photo of someone and completely transform it into something more acceptable to the world's eyes. Filtering out what the world considers to be blemishes and imperfections until it becomes a total lie!
I looked up synonyms of the word "childlike" and came up with words such as guileless, naive, unsophisticated and unworldy! That last word - unworldy - struck a chord with me because as Christians, though we live in the world, we should not be conformed to the world! So taking that a little further, we are called to be unworldy - ergo childlike!
Matthew 19:13-14 "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:1-5 "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."
Pastor Andy also brought up another aspect of what it is to see for yourself who Jesus really is rather than just seeing what we want Him to do for us. Throughout Jesus' time on this Earth there were people who had preconceived ideas of who or what He should be. Those people were happy to put the Messiah into a box that fit in with their plans and wants and desires, not realising, or perhaps forgetting, that while He was fully human, He was also fully God! So when He didn't "tick all the boxes" of their preconceptions because they had been expecting some great warrior or charismatic religious leader who would smite their enemies and free them from Roman rule, they spurned and condemned Him.
Colossians 2:9 "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily"
John 10:30-33 "I and My Father are one." Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
Now let's talk about boxes!
The problem with boxes is that, no matter how big they are, they all have set limitations! If we say that Jesus is this way or that way we are putting Him into a box - which is not only wrong, it's ridiculous! God doesn't have any limits! He doesn't fit into a box!
The Jesus that I serve is working "outside the box!" Just look at those He chose as His disciples. These 12 people were not religious or political leaders, they weren't influential, weren't even teachers or speakers. They were just ordinary, run-of-the-mill, human, fallible people. Some would say the dregs of the Earth! He said they were the salt of the Earth and the light of the world!
Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
God works in mysterious ways and chooses the unlikeliest of people to do His bidding because He sees who we truly are and brings out our true potential.
So, the message is - remain childlike, joyful, innocent, and don't put Jesus into a box! Instead we should put the world, it's views, it's religious dogma, prejudices, fears - anything that's negative and doesn't come from God - into a huge box and lock it away out of sight and mind!
All we really need to know about Jesus is His kindness, His mercy and His great and abiding love for us! Of course that shouldn't stop you from digging deeper into His word and finding out for yourself what kind of person He is!
John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
He is the Word made flesh, the Son of God, Saviour of the world! My best friend! I have felt Him move in my life and the lives of those I love!
Oh, how I love you, Jesus! Thank you for always being there, working inside me and through me! You are my guiding light, my heart's delight and my protector!
I am Yours forever!
Amen
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