In today’s reading we come face to face with a foundational issue of faith. Jesus calls His people to “become like children.” That’s a hard thought for adults to think. After all, we spent eighteen years trying to go out of being like a child. Now Jesus is calling us back. What are we to make of this? It might be more of a challenge than we think.
A child in the ancient world was a person without status or rights, and completely dependent on the generosity and guidance of others to care for him or her. The first hearers of Jesus’ statement would know exactly what Jesus was saying. When it comes to faith, we must be “converted,” and turn away from our self-dependency and self-sufficiency. That’s a tough one for adults. Yet, Jesus drives it into our hearts when he says, “unless…you become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Then Jesus defines what he means. He calls us to humility. He calls us to voluntarily let go our pride of self-sufficiency and independence, and to come within the embrace of God so that God might be the ultimate provider for our lives. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when He taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
For what kingdom do we live, ours or the Father’s? I would suggest that for most of us, this might be a place of battle. We want the Father’s will but we want our own will, too. We want to follow Jesus but becoming like a child; that’s a little much.
Lent is a good time to quiet our hearts before God, clear our minds, and admit that many times we want to be the one who calls the shots. In fact, if we’re really honest, at times it is difficult to know how to follow Jesus. When should we be like a child that can’t act unless the parent gives permission, or like an adult whose been around awhile and knows the ropes.
Perhaps, Jesus is simply calling us to bring our lives under the umbrella of His redemption, and live under His Lordship. God has given us gifts and talents and skills that are best utilized when one is within the embrace of God’s amazing grace. Perhaps, Jesus is calling us to bring all that we are and lay everything on the altar, and let everything we have and are, belong to God. Maybe our prayer and our lives should reflect this wonderful prayer from John Wesley,
I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, Rank me with whom you will; Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by you, or laid aside by you, exalted by you or brought low by you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal…. Amen.
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