Becoming like a child

Luke 18:15-17

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Today I wanted my devotion to be about children as today is my son’s 4^th birthday. 

The Bible tells us that not only are we to bring children to Christ, but that we are to receive the kingdom of God like a little child in order to enter.  So what does that mean?  If I use my son as an example, I think it becomes clear.  A child does not always obey their parents perfectly.  As a parent, I get frustrated when my son does not listen to me.  I’m sure the same is true with our Heavenly Father when we do not listen to him. 

That being said, if I am out and about with my son and scene danger, I can tell him firmly that he needs to listen to me and he’s going to.  A parent will watch out for their child and the child feels safe with the parent and does not question them.  Our Heavenly Father is also watching out for us.  If we become like a child, we are not going to question what He has told us.

Children are certainly not perfect and God does not expect us to be perfect.  He does want what is best for us though and wants us to love and obey him.

Our Journey to Adoption, Part IX - Blessings from the Impossible

As I mentioned last week, slowly the other possible homes for James and Sarah fell through and left us and the current foster family. The current foster family didn’t take their names off the list, in case we fell through. They also made it seem like they were waiting to decide if we cared enough about the kids. If they didn’t feel like we cared enough, then they were going to adopt. It certainly made us feel manipulated for continuous weekend respite care, not to mention extra scrutiny.

After much pressure, even though it was the heat of tax season, we also agreed to keep the kids for part of Spring break so that the foster family could go on a family vacation geared for their older children. However, a few days before Spring break, the other family that was going to take the kids for the other half of the week called and cancelled. We were then pressured that if we really cared about the kids we would agree to keep them longer than originally planned! I felt like we were already going way out of our way and had already taken off some work time at a very busy time of year.

After prayer and talking to my boss about a creative work schedule, we agreed to keep the kids. It was quite a tiring week, but we really bonded with them! It helped to be all together for more than just a weekend!!! God used what seemed like unrealistic expectations to bring blessings. I shouldn’t be surprised, as God can bring blessings from any impossible situation, including death!  

John 11:38-43           ³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” ⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” ⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
What are you facing that seems overwhelming, stressful, or impossible? Will you take it to God and then be willing to creatively participate in the solution? The greatest blessings often come out of the most difficult situations.

Alice

Never Fails

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (NIV)

There is a war coming. Outside, it may appear that the war is with a religion.  That may be true, but my heart tells me something much less obvious.  The greater and perhaps more important war is not outside the church.  It is from within.  It is a battle for its soul.  There are those who believe the church has been lost for a long time.  I was one who believed that it was the answer to all of our problems, and this is something I still believe.  Bill Hybels has said that the local church is the hope of the world.  If that is true, then hope may indeed be fleeting.  We are not being that shining light as a beacon on a hill.  We have become too occupied with telling our outside world to conform or suffer God’s wrath.  Those both inside and outside the church have said we have not spread the gospel enough.  My concern?  It is none of those.  My concern is that we are not the loving people God would want us to be.  We are focused on greater understanding of the word and not living it.

If you doubt there is a war, you only need to breathe in what is happening in society today. There are those who firmly believe we need to build walls, and others who believe we need to open our arms wide open.  Some believe we need to protect our borders, and others believe we need to open them to those who may be persecuted.  I could continue to go up and down the list of ideas for each side.  I have prayed for understanding that God guide my steps and words today.  As I did, He helped me realize something.  There is only one sure thing that He has shown me throughout my life that holds true still today.  Love never fails.

It was love that drove Martin Luther King Jr. to peacefully march to stand through abuse, jail, and threats to his life to lead an entire race to have equality. In the closing of his final speech which foretold of his eventual death, he said these words:

Well, I don't know what will happen now; we've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter to with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life–longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain.  And I've looked over, and I've seen the Promised Land.  I may not get there with you.  But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And so I'm happy tonight; I'm not worried about anything; I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Forty years after his speech and subsequent death, an African American became President. It did not signify the end of discrimination or bigotry, but it meant that a person like me no longer had to be silent ever again.

It was love that changed my life’s trajectory. A man saw a skinny black teenager and felt he did not belong.  However after watching his grit and determination against all odds, the man’s view changed.  He said to this child, “Before I knew you, I would have nothing to do with you.  After watching you and getting to know you, I would be honored to have you in my home anytime you choose to come here.”  That moment changed both of their lives forever.

Finally, it was love shown even in the face of hate. A church in South Carolina has nine of its parishioners killed by a white supremacist.  At the hearing where he is arraigned, the grieving families speak of anger and pain.  However to the surprise of the world, they also show forgiveness.  Nadine Collier, daughter of one of the victims says to the killer, “I forgive you . . . I will never be able to hold (my mother) again, but I forgive you . . . If God forgives you, I forgive you.”  I went to that church later that year.  The moment I stepped in there, one understood right away why they could say those words with sincerity and conviction.

You see even in the face of hatred, love wins every time. It always has in my life.  If it has not in yours, then I challenge you because as a pastor taught me, The Bible is the greatest love story of all because it is about God’s love for you.  Through sin, He lost us, but through Jesus Christ, He said He wants us back.  Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”  So to those of you who will biblical or spiritually challenge me that we need to protect ourselves and our borders or ban refugees, I’m sorry to disappoint you.  I cannot nor will not be on your side.  You see?  Love never failed me or my people before.  I will not stand against it now.  It does not mean I will not pray for the President and it does not mean I do not wish him well.  It simply means my God has taught me to love even at the risk of my life, and I will love my brother even if he or she does not know my God.  My prayer is that each of you looks at yourselves and answer, “Does Jesus’ love ever fail?”  Do I love as Jesus loves me?  Amen.

Tues Devo: Building from the source

Colossians 2:6-8 “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (NASB)

What an interesting time we live in! As we look at the political and social landscape today, not only are there strongly differing opinions – but in an age with technology where those opinions can be freely shared. What is truth? What is only part of the truth? What is completely false, but looks good? What evidence can be crafted to support the feeling/opinion?

It is certainly challenging to sift through and figure out what is truth. We need context, we need history, we need full details, and we need an open mind. If we don’t approach discovery with an attitude of wanting truth instead of wanting to support our pre-conceived feelings we will miss things.

I am not here to say in the political arena what is and isn’t truth and what is and isn’t right (happy to chat on that 1-1, seems to be more effective that way) but I am here to encourage all of us as believers to start with the source of truth as our real foundation for belief – not just our opinions and feelings. Scripture should shape our feelings and opinions. We must approach God’s word looking to learn and be influenced, not looking for support of what makes us feel good. I think Paul addressed this in his letter to Colossae where he talked about being rooted AND built up in Christ. He then just a verse later talks about the dangers of being swayed by people with their opinions and traditions. We must watch what is driving our opinions and beliefs – and it should be Christ through His word. How do we do that? Read…..the whole thing! Don’t fall into just looking for 1 or 2 verses, get context and seek understanding – let that propel you forward.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill