Like a Child

[Not me]

Luke 18:17 (NASB)
"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it [at all.]"

“like a child”

These words we read, are meant to portray what condition one’s heart is to be in, that would want to receive the things of God.

Like a child.

For a child’s heart, above all the confusion, doubts, fears and questions in a child’s heart. One thing they don’t question is their father’s love for them. Even after a punishment, they come running up to their father to get reassurance. Their heart rests in the knowledge that their father’s heart is toward them always. They want his comfort, they need his comfort, they need the stability of his fellowship and the strength that his love brings to them. They might not understand, how, or why, or what. But what they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that their father is their father and he will always be and his love is always theirs. Though the up’s and down’s, through the good and bad, he will always be their father and that can never change. They are part of him and he is part of them. They are bone of his bone.

This familiar relationship is the strongest relationship we as humans have. This born into the family relationship is a knot that can never be untied, can never not be, for it has happened. This oneness, of a being, “born out of.”

This is but a poor description of what the relationship between a believer and his Heavenly Father is to be. Such a trust and a knowing that they will always be loved and accepted.

It is knowing this fact that wrong will not be tolerated, that makes the relationship strong. It is this fact the child’s heart can rest in. This security of the relationship based on truth and right. For the child sees and knows that it is right that their father’s heart is towards them. So they can rest in the assurance that their father’s heart will always do what is right and that means to always love them.

For the bar of love, is the bar of right, and it is that that gives their relationship a unending eternal strength that the child’s heart can rest in. This knowledge that truth and right is the foundation of their relationship, for the perfect Father always stands with what is right. This is what brings the believer great joy and security, knowing that their Heavenly Father always does what is right. They may not, but their Heavenly Father always does. It is this attitude of heart we are called to have. This attitude of knowing that the Father’s heart is always torward His children. It is this heart of humble trust in the one who tells us that He is love, we are to have faith in, to believe in, to rest in.

Why does He want us to believe this?

Because only a heart that does, can be taught. And God would have us learn.

The humility, of taking your place as a child before God. We whom are full of self and our own opinions. This is surely a death to self, but it must be and gone through if we are to receive the Kingdom.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Dave-W]

That was the topic of our rabbi’s sermon yesterday.

 

[Martyr's Crown]

This brings much food to thought.

There is much one can take in as a given example when looking at a family and how it can be viewed as when basing it out from Scripture, but also looking at the relationship between the Father and the Son.

Compared to God as a Father, our parents are very "flawed". Yet we are told through many Scripture places to honour them both. There are even places in Scripture where it is written we would get killed if we don't do this, showing us how serious this is seen through God's eyes.

In this world a lot is looked at through a psycological view, which also easily can destroy the way a family were intended to be. This doesn't mean we shouldn't take it serious when there is abuse happening in a family, though a biblical approach of counseling is no longer seen as helpful. Or not in many churches, and especially not so much in society.

Honoring parents is very rare in this time, and most do it only if they think they deserve it. But someone who loves God would still manage to honour parents as well as loving them, even when it is tough. When you are changed by Him, your approach and way of thinking changes, too!

When I think of the Father's love for me, I think of it as higher than what my parents or anyone else can be capable of loving me! None can love me as much as He does! It is an indescribable love which He has for us! We can try our best describing it with words, and sometimes it comes out beautifully put! But we can never fully describe it as it is! As we can never comprehend it in full the way it truly is! Not until we meet Him for real!

 

[Not me]

This brings much food to thought.

There is much one can take in as a given example when looking at a family and how it can be viewed as when basing it out from Scripture, but also looking at the relationship between the Father and the Son.

Compared to God as a Father, our parents are very "flawed". Yet we are told through many Scripture places to honour them both. There are even places in Scripture where it is written we would get killed if we don't do this, showing us how serious this is seen through God's eyes.

In this world a lot is looked at through a psycological view, which also easily can destroy the way a family were intended to be. This doesn't mean we shouldn't take it serious when there is abuse happening in a family, though a biblical approach of counseling is no longer seen as helpful. Or not in many churches, and especially not so much in society.

Honoring parents is very rare in this time, and most do it only if they think they deserve it. But someone who loves God would still manage to honour parents as well as loving them, even when it is tough. When you are changed by Him, your approach and way of thinking changes, too!

When I think of the Father's love for me, I think of it as higher than what my parents or anyone else can be capable of loving me! None can love me as much as He does! It is an indescribable love which He has for us! We can try our best describing it with words, and sometimes it comes out beautifully put! But we can never fully describe it as it is! As we can never comprehend it in full the way it truly is! Not until we meet Him for real!

Yes, it would be a awesome thing to actually see and know just how much God loves us. We can read about it, and can imagine about it. But to know it by experience would be, for sure, a awesome thing.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Martyr's Crown]

Yes, it would be a awesome thing to actually see and know just how much God loves us. We can read about it, and can imagine about it. But to know it by experience would be, for sure, a awesome thing.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

We do experience His love in parts. Much of the same as what we are capable of understanding as this bible verse tells us; 1 Corinthians 13:12

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

I think the last bit is very deep. That we will know just as we also are known. In this life most of us tries creating ourselves the way we would like being as well as being seen as through other people's eyes. From the time we are born and growing up we become developed through the way we are raised up as well as other influences around us, whether it be with strangers or made friends. We can start liking something just because a friend does, or because of a sister/brother's interest. Gradually everything which we take in becomes a part of our interests, likes or dislikes, even opinions can be given to us because of others.

Now what we take in will matter a lot and will have a great impact in our lives.

Proverbs 4:23

"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."

The way we think we know ourselves aren't always the way we are known before God. Many measures themselves from what they have in their hearts, and yet we are warned about this too;

Jeremiah 17:9

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"

We can't even measure ourselves out from the content of our own hearts, since not all of what we have in there is pure and good. And yet most humans will justify themselves and what they do as good, because in their own eyes then the path of life they choose is seen as right and good.

Proverbs 14:12

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death."

It amazes me thinking of what will be given to us as written in Revelation 2:17

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”"

That will be a very special moment.

Who we truly are in Christ, and how we are seen as through God's eyes, is very different from how we see ourselves, as well as how others see us. But once we are with God in heaven, we will know this in full!

 

[Not me]

We do experience His love in parts. Much of the same as what we are capable of understanding as this bible verse tells us; 1 Corinthians 13:12

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

I think the last bit is very deep. That we will know just as we also are known. In this life most of us tries creating ourselves the way we would like being as well as being seen as through other people's eyes. From the time we are born and growing up we become developed through the way we are raised up as well as other influences around us, whether it be with strangers or made friends. We can start liking something just because a friend does, or because of a sister/brother's interest. Gradually everything which we take in becomes a part of our interests, likes or dislikes, even opinions can be given to us because of others.

Now what we take in will matter a lot and will have a great impact in our lives.

Proverbs 4:23

"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."

The way we think we know ourselves aren't always the way we are known before God. Many measures themselves from what they have in their hearts, and yet we are warned about this too;

Jeremiah 17:9

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"

We can't even measure ourselves out from the content of our own hearts, since not all of what we have in there is pure and good. And yet most humans will justify themselves and what they do as good, because in their own eyes then the path of life they choose is seen as right and good.

Proverbs 14:12

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death."

It amazes me thinking of what will be given to us as written in Revelation 2:17

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”"

That will be a very special moment.

Who we truly are in Christ, and how we are seen as through God's eyes, is very different from how we see ourselves, as well as how others see us. But once we are with God in heaven, we will know this in full!

I’m of the mind that the closer we get to Christ in this life the clearer we can see. Though we will always see as it were though a mirror, it seems to me the more I press in to Christ and feed my personal relationship with Him, the more clearer I see. It may not be much, but things do seem to be a tad bit more understandable. I’m also of the mind that God wants us to see clearer, so between His desire for my seeing and my desire to see we meet, and my love and personal relationship grows with this awesome God who gave Himself for me grows. So to Him that calls us to Himself, Glory, Honor, and all Love. ❤️

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Martyr's Crown]

I’m of the mind that the closer we get to Christ in this life the clearer we can see. Though we will always see as it were though a mirror, it seems to me the more I press in to Christ and feed my personal relationship with Him, the more clearer I see. It may not be much, but things do seem to be a tad bit more understandable. I’m also of the mind that God wants us to see clearer, so between His desire for my seeing and my desire to see we meet, and my love and personal relationship grows with this awesome God who gave Himself for me grows. So to Him that calls us to Himself, Glory, Honor, and all Love. ❤️

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me

We do get to know Him more and better when we get closer to God, and He will give us more understanding as He finds it best for us to get. Everything we get comes from Him, so all knowledge and understanding given to us is also from God! Not all knowledge gained comes from Him, though, if we compare this to what we get from the world. Same way as there is a difference between human wisdom and Godly wisdom.

Also as it is written in Matthew 7:21-23

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Meaning it is also important you are known by Jesus, through having a personal relationship with Him. All the others claimed to know Him, yet He didn't, and will tell them to depart from Him.

Stay blessed in Christ Jesus!

 

[Not me]

We do get to know Him more and better when we get closer to God, and He will give us more understanding as He finds it best for us to get. Everything we get comes from Him, so all knowledge and understanding given to us is also from God! Not all knowledge gained comes from Him, though, if we compare this to what we get from the world. Same way as there is a difference between human wisdom and Godly wisdom.

Also as it is written in Matthew 7:21-23

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Meaning it is also important you are known by Jesus, through having a personal relationship with Him. All the others claimed to know Him, yet He didn't, and will tell them to depart from Him.

Stay blessed in Christ Jesus!

Thanks,

Blessings as we press into Jesus.

Much love in Christ, Not me