Childlike Faith | Mark 10

Welcome to Real Life. How does age affect our image of God? Are you ever too young to believe? Or, too old?

Cal as a toddler

“I want to go to heaven.” My three-year-old son Calvin told me one Sunday morning after church.

"Why?" I asked.

 "I want to go to heaven to be with Jesus," he answered.
~~~~~

Parents brought their children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them and bless them. The disciples were annoyed. They thought the parents were wasting Jesus’ time and told them to leave. When Jesus saw what was happening, he said to the disciples,
"Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
Then, Jesus took the children into his arms and blessed them.
~~~~~

Sometimes, when people hear that my son prayed and invited Jesus into his heart at age three, they are incredulous, “Can a child that young understand what it means to follow Jesus?” Well, no. A three-year-old cannot comprehend all the tenets of Christianity. He doesn't have to. Calvin placed his simple, childlike faith in Jesus.
It takes childlike faith to trust in Jesus.

Does this mean that only a simple-minded person would be gullible enough to believe in Christ? No. C.S. Lewis, once an atheist, is one example of an intellectual who came to faith in Jesus Christ. The greatest theologians of our time have only scratched the surface of understanding God and his ways. The Almighty is unfathomable.

Neither does having childlike faith mean that unless a person believes in Christ during his childhood, he is lost forever. I once prayed with an 80-year-old man who decided to follow Jesus.

No matter our age or status, all enter God’s Kingdom in the same way … by placing simple, childlike faith in Jesus to save us.
Oh Lord, give me the gift of simple, childlike faith.


 Taking it further ...


How old were you when you began your faith journey? I'd love to hear your comments.

Comments

  1. Pat GarciaAugust 16, 2013 at 9:19 AM

    Hi,

    Thank you. I was three years old when I first sang my first song. It was Amazing Grace. Since that age, I have had a hunger for God. It doesn't mean that I haven't made mistakes, because I've made some big ones, but God has never left me alone. I can testify to that.
    C.S. Lewis is one of my favorites and Derek Prince also. Derek was a Cambridge Philosopher and met Jesus as he was stationed in Sudan during the war. He made a complete turn around over night and became a General for God.
    Childlike faith is really the wisdom of God. It takes a certain amount of childlike wisdom to see those things that we cannot see with the natural eye and to walk in them. Abraham walked in them, and so did Moses.
    I enjoyed reading your article. Great job.
    Shalom,
    Patricia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peggi TustanAugust 16, 2013 at 8:40 PM

      Hi Patricia,

      How sweet to hear your story, that you sang your first song at three. I wish I could see/hear a playback of that. Maybe in heaven! :)

      I tend to complicate things. I appreciate your thought, "Childlike faith is really the wisdom of God."

      Thanks so much, Patricia, for your thoughtful comments.

      Delete
  2. UnknownAugust 16, 2013 at 3:59 PM

    Lovely post, Peggi. I'm not a Christian, but my husband and son are. I'm an "elder sister" (a Jew)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peggi TustanAugust 18, 2013 at 8:42 PM

      Hi Marta,
      I really appreciate you stopping by to read my blog, especially since you are a Jew. You blessed me today. Thank you!

      Delete

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