Become Like Little Children: Genuine Faith
Meaning of Genuine Faith- Faith in God Changes Everything
Matthew 18:3-6 "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea."
Continued from Becoming Like Little Children: Learn a Child’s Humility
If you asked, “are three verses in Matthew big enough to get two posts?” I would say, without question. Not only are these words from Christ, God himself in person, but they are so insightful when we compare them to other commandments in the Bible regarding salvation. There are so many bad habits we take on as adults that we really must remove everything and make ourselves like children again, to even fathom the concept of God’s saving Grace. We have built mountains in our path-to-faith in God.
Many Christians have unintentionally turned from God by relying on science for answers. And it is almost cultural now to worry about the opinion of the status quo. Many of us are even afraid that giving up control to God will leave us feeling bound and enslaved. God does not wish to enslave you; he is freeing you. You aren’t giving up what you have, he is giving you something you cannot buy. And we will talk about how through having genuine faith, like a child.
A Child’s Faith
No matter how deep the water is, my son JP comes running and leaps into mine and my wife’s arms. Pools, lakes, the ocean… it doesn’t matter. He is a child who loves water and is only learning how to swim. Why leap? Because he has genuine faith that we will catch him. There are so many things that can go wrong in that situation, but he has yet to be let down. No matter what, I do everything I can to keep his head above water and keep him safe; and he keeps jumping in faith. A child just trusts, they know nothing else.
One day, I am probably going to let JP down. Promise to go to a game and get called into work or tell him we are going fishing and realize it’s going to rain; but for now, his faith in me is rock solid and he lives on every promise. God makes promises too, but he has always fulfilled them. Maybe not the way we wanted him to, but he answers prayers.
Leap!
When you leap in faith, God will catch you and he will not fail you. A child does not need to see with their eyes to act on faith, but as adults, we have learned to rationalize and overcomplicate things. God cannot be rationalized. Science cannot disprove God. They have tried to disprove the Bible many times, and for a short time they often think they have the key… but then some archeologist uncovers something, or molecular physicists make a breakthrough, and they are right back where they started.
Christ gave us an example that we can see every day in our lives, children! He didn’t say, be like this here rare albino rhino. He said children, something that surrounds us. How well he must know mankind to give us the perfect daily example. He must have known we would need the regular reminder!
Digging Deeper
My children hang on every word I say and have so much faith in my promises. What if we were like that with God? We read the Bible and, understanding the context in which it was written, we based our lives on every one of God’s promises. God does not change; therefore, we can know that he will make good on his word. Why? Well for God, he is perfect and all knowing. He doesn’t make promises he doesn’t intend to keep because it’s outside his perfect character.
Reading the Bible teaches us about who God is on a personal level. Jesus, the Father, the Holy Spirit; they are all the same and yet different. We will discuss the three God heads in a future post, but when reading the Bible, we can get to know God through the actions of all three of these majestic beings. My children have faith that I love them and that I do not want to let them down. Since God the Father is my example, I do everything in my power to keep my promises.
Fatherhood
When I roll over on Saturday morning at 6am and look into the eyes of my 4-year-old, I overcome my sleep deprived state by feeding on the excitement of JP holding his fishing pole; knowing I am going to honor my promise of going fishing that morning. Again, why do we think God is any different. He is a proud Father; he loves each Christian like they are an only child. Our faith in him honoring his promises, like my 4-year-old boy, brings happiness to him. Imagine, your unwavering faith in God brings him joy!
The creator of the universe wants to fulfill his promises to you! We must look at God as our Father. Once we remove our self-focus and arrogance, we realize that in the scheme of things, we are like children when we compare ourselves to God’s infinite knowledge and power. No matter how smart or capable we are, we are like helpless children when compared to the All-Mighty God.
Start Your Day with Genuine Faith
So, let’s stop comparing ourselves to others and building up our sense of self-reliance by worldly measures. We do not control our eternal lives and we do not maintain the order of the universe. Your Heavenly Father does, and he is reaching out his hand, asking you to trust him, put your genuine faith in him. Stop resisting his plan for you. Like a child, just let God buckle you into your car seat and follow him anywhere he wants to drive you. With God in control, whether life or death… success or failure, God will see you through and you are in the greatest of hands.
Photography and writing by Jon Frederick, Photographer for Seven11
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