Childlike dependence

Matthew 19 : 13 - 15

Then the little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.

Little children often surprise us with unique perspectives through their early faith. In his younger days, my son was frequently unwell with bronchial asthma. As a result, there were restrictions on iced drinks and ice cream. One day, after we had been trying to describe this place called 'heaven' to him, he said, "You mean heaven will be a place where I can eat all the ice cream I want and all the iced drinks I like because I will not have cough any more?" He had caught the essential truth....that it will be a place where there will be no more illness or pain...no more of the restrictions that we now have to bear patiently.

My children are no longer 'little ones' and they have lost much of that innate 'wisdom'. However, even now, when I pray for them, I often imagine bringing them to Jesus to lay his hands on them. The asthma has settled down but as they grow up there are new challenges to face, and many opposing forces in their lives. I often do not know what to pray, what their underlying issues are at every moment, but it is comforting to trust that the risen Christ does indeed place his hands upon them, lovingly interceding for them.

One of the most important things we can learn about childlike faith is dependence on our heavenly Father. Those who are sure of themselves will never be fully receptive to Jesus' message. The gospel is only good news to those who acknowledge their helplessness to save themselves. As we grow in spiritual maturity, we must never lose certain childlike qualities that are important for kingdom life: simplicity, openness, teachability, readiness for change......I am sure that all of us, however spiritually 'mature' still need Jesus' attention, love and blessing upon us.

........the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.