Faith of a Child

Chuckle: "Children are like mosquitos: the minute they stop making a noise, you know they're getting into something."

Quote: “Faith fills a man with love for the beauty of its truth, with faith in the truth of its beauty.” --St Francis de Sales.

Then Jesus prayed this prayer, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!" (Matthew 11:25 NLT).

Words spoken by Jesus himself penetrate our hearts and minds in extraordinary ways. His words in our passage are no different. Here, Jesus mentions two kinds of people in his prayer: (1) Those who see themselves as learned, wise, and clever -- arrogant in their own knowledge and wisdom; and (2) Those who approach God with a humble faith like that of a little child -- open to receive the truth of God's Word.

To hear our Lord praying these words to his Father should cause each of us to examine our motives, priorities, and where we are placing our trust. How do you see yourself -- as wise and self-sufficient, or as one who seeks God's truth with humble childlike faith, realizing that only God holds all the answers to our questions about life and eternity?

In his teachings, Jesus often contrasted the believing wise and the foolish unbelievers and emphasized a need to become wise through a simple faith like that of a little child. Here are additional words from Jesus. ". . . I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, anyone who becomes humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3-4 NLT).

These words should cause each of us to fall on our knees and ask forgiveness for our arrogance, self-centeredness, and self-serving attitudes. Children are, by nature, innocent and trusting, and Jesus used a child to help his self-centered disciples understand his teaching point. We are to be humble with sincere hearts -- not childish in our actions but with childlike faith.

"When a father picks up his little daughter and tosses her into the air, she laughs and enjoys it, for she trusts -- has faith in -- her father. Even though she finds herself in unusual situations, like being upside down four feet above the floor with nothing supporting her (normally a most uncomfortable circumstance), she does not fear, for she trusts her father. That is the sort of faith we should have toward our heavenly Father, too."

Love, Jerry & Dotse