Good Morning Friends,
In the book of Job there are lots of questions that Job asks God and God answers them with questions that prompt Job to learn to follow a new train of thought. We too, in service of Christ, need to think in new ways moved by the Spirit of love so as not to reject God’s Kingdom plan.
So, in keeping with God’s teaching techniques, I am going to ask a question but not give you an either-or answer. You will have to figure out the balance of this one for yourself and your personal situation. So, Are You Going To Follow Jesus With The Trust Of A Child Or The Maturity Of An Adult With Faith?
Scripture: Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, so that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, and it is dyed like a garment. Light is withheld from the wicked, and their uplifted arm is broken. “Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. “Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great! Then Job answered the Lord: “See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but will proceed no further.”
Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 (NRSV)
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 (NRSV)
Message: Our joy is important but not more so than increasing the roles in heaven. Still there are some things we will not know. At least not yet. We do not know the effects of our actions on the broader society. Sure, sin kills but we are blinded by the society in which we live. I trust we all understand that we live in a post-Christian nation, that is, culturally we are no longer a nation that upholds conservative Judeo-Christian values or even conservative values. It used to be fifty years ago or more that even if someone was not a Christian, they at least had traditional or conservative values and morals. But that is not true anymore. And maybe it was not even true then. For something has been gained in the movement of history, but something lost too. And when the children are lost it is indeed sad. You need to understand this when you talk to people and not assume that everyone or even anyone will hold to your Christian values, that not everyone values children. People need perspective and passion for this work. Now this is not to say that morals are seen as less important…no, the exact opposition might be the case. But it is to say that people do not value Jesus’ work, for too many hypocrites have been born out the holy huddles focused solely on providing a nice place to raise a family and start a business and enjoy the warm winters here in Florida and never engage in service. Friends wherever we are, God has us placed as missionaries to others, especially the vulnerable. And we need to engage others with the Good News about God in order to transform these places for God…not just for our own prosperity. For the places of prosperity will in time change and some fall from grace. Therefore, we need to see ourselves as missionaries to the places we live but also to where God is working, for the universal church must be connected in missional outreach with Christ as the head leading. This is the only way to really follow Jesus. We need to grow up fast for in every age, there are enemies of the God.
And So, friends, we are to have a childlike trust combined with a maturing love to become what God intended us to be. Without this kind of faith, the faith of Christ in us, we cannot please God. What Jesus is telling us is that we are all children of God, and that God will provide for us if we humble ourselves, but we still need to grow up. That is why Jesus tells us that we must change our way of thinking to be fit for heaven. We need be reformed of our pride and ambition, lust, gluttony, envy, and sloth and instead desire the Milk and Honey of scripture and the presence of Jesus. We need to receive the gift as a child. Then we can mature. Of course, children are easily fooled and led astray. But that is not what is meant by having a childlike faith. In their naivete children tend to miss the truth and be drawn to myths and fantasies. Maybe that is why Jesus tells the story about going after the lost sheep. I link the story of the lost sheep of the house of Israel for they had lost purpose under Roman rule. The hope of finding the lost sheep is to reboot them so they can get back on the job of spreading the gospel to all nations and not just among themselves. That indeed would bring rejoicing in heaven. So, Jesus promoted a humble, honest faith in God, and He used the innocence of a child as an example not just for the disciples to open their eyes but ours as well. Emulating the faith of children, we should simply take God at His Word. As children trust their earthly fathers, we should trust that our heavenly Father to give good gifts to those who ask in faith. We are to trust in the promises of God and love.
Pray for the laborers in the mission field. Pray their hearts and ours are set on Kingdom purposes. Pray we do not reject God’s ways. Pray therefore for the harvest to be both ripe and plentiful. Pray we trust God enough to take reasonable risks in service to the cause. Pray we align ourselves with God’s will. Pray we believe that God will use ordinary and imperfect people to do extraordinary things. Pray we realize that Jesus has power and authority over lots of things including the needed resources to accomplish what we are to do. Pray we discern the authentic path of Jesus and follow. Pray that our prayers prompt us to develop a burden for the vulnerable communities in which we live, for or our nation and the nations of the world. Pray we realize that God’s resources flow out of a life of dependent trust and a maturing relationship with God. Pray for more laborers with a heart for service.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 