Truly, I say to you, unless you become like children, you
will never enter the kingdom of heaven.1
My father did not receive me, he is honored in that he did not
have an earthly father to receive him and the “church” he became a part of did
not receive him as a little child. Without proper example by an
earthly father and with error in example from men who did not receive
little children, he is forgiven because he knew not what he did. He
was taught “spare the rod spoil the child,” and “a child is
best seen and not heard” but the greater things of God like faith
and love, these were neglected. That the kingdom is about entering as a child and receiving little
children he was never taught. Some thought Jesus too important to
receive little children, but he was angered by this, He placed a
little child in front of Him saying to enter the kingdom of
God you must become like children. The ministry is the little child, this is what it is all about, receiving little children, lifting them up.
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”2
So God brought this picture to my mind, myself as a little child I see, I think to
cry out, to shout, look, does anybody see this little boy, does anybody
care? I felt rejected by my earthly father and by those who said they loved God, thus in my
mind I felt God had rejected me. I had believed a lie. That lie would
be deeply rooted in my life, and after I gave my life to Christ, I
would go back to this lie. When bad things began to happen to me, especially by those who say they love God, ministers who manipulate little children of faith, the idea would be reinforced that God did not care, and something was wrong with me. As many
Christians do I had associated good things only happen to good people, and bad things to people who do
not love God. Thus the faulty logic God doesn't love me because bad things happen to me. Of course this is not truth, just look at the wealthy, many do not love God but they are "blessed" for doing evil? Jesus said, the light
rises on the evil as does the darkness fall on the good.
“Truly, I say to you, unless you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”3
I have more insight into what it means to become like a little child. I see this little child rejected and all alone, orphaned, abandoned, abused, and because of the bad things that happened to him he believes God did not love him. So this little child, who is now an adult, stands before God, as a little child. Accepted before God, not by what the child did or does, not measured by other men nor traditions of men, not by what other men think ministry is, nor by what good or by what evil has fallen upon him, nor by his good works, but he stands before God by faith, in a righteousness that is according to grace, because the child is made righteous by the Righteous One who died for him. So firmly founded he becomes who he truly is.
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”4
This is a great promise, a blessing that the child who knows the Father, that he is redeemed, he will overcome. Overcoming lies is not an easy process, it hurts, and it doesn't happen overnight. The child will fall down as she develops her identity, but she is validated by a loving heavenly Father whom gives promise that the Son will raise her up. We see in the child her identity is being rooted and grounded in the love of God. The lie is often deeply rooted so the process can be explained as pealing away layers of an onion, layers the child has put in place for protection. Often the child has conformed externally so she goes unnoticed, she is not truly known. God needs to gets to the core of the onion, this can be seen as the renewing of the mind, until the root, the lie can now be dealt with. The process is difficult, and at its core, trust is not optional. Like the rocket that blares into space, it expends much energy to enter orbit. The “break through” comes through the Spirit of Life.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”5
This break through is because of Him, “he is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” but what must I do? The mind renewed has understanding that such a break through requires trust and rest, a total dependence on God, surrendering, pressing in, for God to do above and beyond that which I am not able to think or am capable of. Think of it as replacing roots in a plant, to tear out the deep root of a lie without the child being firmly rooted in truth would be impossible. But when the child is firmly rooted the break through is the transition from the old root to the new. In such His grace is sufficient for us as his power is being perfected in us. Oh heavenly Father, may those who have believed this lie, that you do not love them, may they look upon your Son, may they come to Jesus and believe in Him, and may they boldly approach the throne of Grace and receive grace and mercy. May they receive the great blessing you have blessed this little child with, because as you love me you have loved them, so much that you gave your Son. May they trust and rest in you, the God who is able above and beyond all that we may imagine.
O'Lord
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”2
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| The Father's House (Otchiy Dim) |
“Truly, I say to you, unless you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”3
I have more insight into what it means to become like a little child. I see this little child rejected and all alone, orphaned, abandoned, abused, and because of the bad things that happened to him he believes God did not love him. So this little child, who is now an adult, stands before God, as a little child. Accepted before God, not by what the child did or does, not measured by other men nor traditions of men, not by what other men think ministry is, nor by what good or by what evil has fallen upon him, nor by his good works, but he stands before God by faith, in a righteousness that is according to grace, because the child is made righteous by the Righteous One who died for him. So firmly founded he becomes who he truly is.
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”4
This is a great promise, a blessing that the child who knows the Father, that he is redeemed, he will overcome. Overcoming lies is not an easy process, it hurts, and it doesn't happen overnight. The child will fall down as she develops her identity, but she is validated by a loving heavenly Father whom gives promise that the Son will raise her up. We see in the child her identity is being rooted and grounded in the love of God. The lie is often deeply rooted so the process can be explained as pealing away layers of an onion, layers the child has put in place for protection. Often the child has conformed externally so she goes unnoticed, she is not truly known. God needs to gets to the core of the onion, this can be seen as the renewing of the mind, until the root, the lie can now be dealt with. The process is difficult, and at its core, trust is not optional. Like the rocket that blares into space, it expends much energy to enter orbit. The “break through” comes through the Spirit of Life.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”5
This break through is because of Him, “he is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” but what must I do? The mind renewed has understanding that such a break through requires trust and rest, a total dependence on God, surrendering, pressing in, for God to do above and beyond that which I am not able to think or am capable of. Think of it as replacing roots in a plant, to tear out the deep root of a lie without the child being firmly rooted in truth would be impossible. But when the child is firmly rooted the break through is the transition from the old root to the new. In such His grace is sufficient for us as his power is being perfected in us. Oh heavenly Father, may those who have believed this lie, that you do not love them, may they look upon your Son, may they come to Jesus and believe in Him, and may they boldly approach the throne of Grace and receive grace and mercy. May they receive the great blessing you have blessed this little child with, because as you love me you have loved them, so much that you gave your Son. May they trust and rest in you, the God who is able above and beyond all that we may imagine.
O'Lord