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My little brother must think he's Superman. I can't tell you how many times he jumps off of places, throwing caution to the wind. He has no sense of danger, but that's because my family rushes to break his fall. Then he brushes off the dust, and scurries away. And what does he do?
He jumps off something else.
But when you think about it, it just shows that he has faith in us. He trusts that his family will be there to catch him, so that he is left unscathed. It's amusingly frustrating.
But, I want to have that childlike trust.
He jumps off something else.
But when you think about it, it just shows that he has faith in us. He trusts that his family will be there to catch him, so that he is left unscathed. It's amusingly frustrating.
But, I want to have that childlike trust.
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When the disciples asked who was the greatest in Heaven, Jesus brought a child before them. He told the disciples to be like children. Otherwise, they would not be able to enter Heaven. (Matthew 18:3-4)
'To be like a child', what does that mean? In the fourth verse, Jesus tells them to become saved. And then, they must humble themselves (Matthew 18:4). "Stop thinking so highly of yourself, be meek and lowly".
When we become humble, we learn to trust God. We stop thinking so highly of ourselves, and let ourselves realize that with God, all things are possible. We stop relying on our own strength. Like my brother, we allow ourselves to fall, because we know His Hands will catch us.
When we have that childlike humility, we become as the greatest in Heaven. The way up is down. It's a beautiful thing. (1 Peter 5:5-6)
Jesus displayed humility during His time on Earth. He quietly entered the world as a defenseless baby of a carpenter. He washed His followers' feet. And then, the greatest display of humility: He died on the cross. The Romans used the cross to punish the vilest offenders (Phil. 2:8). Jesus died on the same cross that was used to kill those two thieves.
But He was obedient to the Father, even when He was bruised and battered. And then, He was later exalted (Phil 2:8-9).
One thing I've noticed in my Christian life is that I sometimes start to stop relying on God, even when it comes to doing things of His work. Then, I complain to friends, and they tell me to pray to Him. It seems like an obvious thing, but it's then that I realize I've made activities more of a priority in my life than God Himself. It's at that time that I realize I've become proud, and put God on the shelf.
However, like our motto point out, Christianity is all about having a relationship with God, not just a religion. 1 Peter 5:7 says that we should be "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." God wants us to trust Him because He cares for us, He loves us. He's not just the big Guy in the sky that looks down at us. He is a loving God that is willing to be authentic and real with us. But we have to be willing to be real with Him too.
No matter what persecutions we face, God wants us to believe in Him. A song's chorus tell us:
'To be like a child', what does that mean? In the fourth verse, Jesus tells them to become saved. And then, they must humble themselves (Matthew 18:4). "Stop thinking so highly of yourself, be meek and lowly".
When we become humble, we learn to trust God. We stop thinking so highly of ourselves, and let ourselves realize that with God, all things are possible. We stop relying on our own strength. Like my brother, we allow ourselves to fall, because we know His Hands will catch us.
When we have that childlike humility, we become as the greatest in Heaven. The way up is down. It's a beautiful thing. (1 Peter 5:5-6)
Jesus displayed humility during His time on Earth. He quietly entered the world as a defenseless baby of a carpenter. He washed His followers' feet. And then, the greatest display of humility: He died on the cross. The Romans used the cross to punish the vilest offenders (Phil. 2:8). Jesus died on the same cross that was used to kill those two thieves.
But He was obedient to the Father, even when He was bruised and battered. And then, He was later exalted (Phil 2:8-9).
One thing I've noticed in my Christian life is that I sometimes start to stop relying on God, even when it comes to doing things of His work. Then, I complain to friends, and they tell me to pray to Him. It seems like an obvious thing, but it's then that I realize I've made activities more of a priority in my life than God Himself. It's at that time that I realize I've become proud, and put God on the shelf.
However, like our motto point out, Christianity is all about having a relationship with God, not just a religion. 1 Peter 5:7 says that we should be "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." God wants us to trust Him because He cares for us, He loves us. He's not just the big Guy in the sky that looks down at us. He is a loving God that is willing to be authentic and real with us. But we have to be willing to be real with Him too.
No matter what persecutions we face, God wants us to believe in Him. A song's chorus tell us:
Come unto Me, I will give you rest;
Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blest;
I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might;
Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.
Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blest;
I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might;
Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.
The chorus is derived from Matthew 11:28-30. It tells us to follow Jesus, and to yield unto Him. Why? He will give us rest. The only yoke, the only "bondage" that He requires is something very light. That yoke is love. He only wishes that we love Him.
God wishes us to live and love like children. A child doesn't hold grudges very long. A child quickly cheers up in the midst of tribulation. They believe in happily-ever-after endings. If they can do it, why can't we?
God tells us that “...in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b). In the same way that parents soothe a child that things will be okay, God wants us to be at ease. His love has conquered all, so He just wishes that we trust Him.
I've grown to respect children. They may not realize it, but what they do is really hard.
God wishes us to live and love like children. A child doesn't hold grudges very long. A child quickly cheers up in the midst of tribulation. They believe in happily-ever-after endings. If they can do it, why can't we?
God tells us that “...in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b). In the same way that parents soothe a child that things will be okay, God wants us to be at ease. His love has conquered all, so He just wishes that we trust Him.
I've grown to respect children. They may not realize it, but what they do is really hard.