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A Child at Heart Great Truths About Life That Little Children Have Learned:

  1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
  2. When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
  3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
  4. Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
  5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
  6. Reading what people write on desks can teach you a lot.
  7. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
  8. Puppies still have bad breath, even after eating a tic-tac.
  9. Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
  10. School lunches stick to the wall.
  11. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
  12. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
  13. The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

Unfortunately it was not an unusual occurrence. In the three years that Jesus did ministry on this earth His disciples had this conversation way too many times. It generally went something like this, “Which one of us is the greatest?” or Which one of us is closest to Jesus?” On one occasion a couple of the disciples had their mother approach Jesus to secure them high-ranking positions in his earthly kingdom.

I have mentioned before the story told by former Nixon cabinet member, Chuck Colson, about the trip to China, where cabinet members measured the distance from the President’s bed to the other beds in the room to see who deserved to sleep the closest to the President. It seems that it is human nature to seek to be the greatest.

It is our question of the day. Another classic question from the Bible and it is found in Matthew 18.

“At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?"For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom.” Matthew 18:1-4

This is a tense moment. Jesus has just come down from encountering God his Father on the Mount of Transfiguration. It was an incredible moment of renewal and recommitment to the journey that would take Him to the cross. He has handpicked the twelve disciples and has poured His life into them. Sometimes they seem like they are getting it and sometimes they seem miles away from understanding His mission and His message.

This was one of those times when they just didn’t get it. If you read the whole chapter in Matthew 18, I think you will conclude that Jesus was not happy with the immaturity of his disciples. They were thinking they were pretty hot stuff and He decides to have a teaching moment so He takes a little child and calls them to examine the real question that is important.

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Math. 18:3,4

Jesus reminds them that they are not even asking the right question. He calls them to change or they are not even going to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

It is His answer that we are looking at today. Jesus calls them to humility and the innocence of childhood.

I began to wonder what it means for us to become like little children. What characteristics do children posses that we should emulate? Let’s look at a few of them together.

1. Little children are creative and imaginative.

There is not substitute for the imagination of a little child. Remember with me what it was like when you were little and how you could create something out of nothing. When I didn’t have a toy gun or sword I would make one out of a stick. When I needed a ship to become the captain of I used the side porch of our house that had a curved railing and allowed me to sail the seven seas and fight off pirates or neighborhood kids who were engaging in the game.

It is in our childhood that our senses are alive and we dream about life and what it will hold. How many little boys are convinced or imagine that they will grow up to play professional sports or do some great thing. How many little girls dream of what their life will be like when they are adults?

Maybe it is the reality of life that robs us of our imaginations and creativity but I think it is still okay to dream and even be creative about it.

2. Little children are curious to know more. They have a sense of discovery.

A couple of weeks ago I found myself in the Kroger’s store on Livingston Ave. in Columbus for about an hour. I was waiting on a prescription to be filled. As a sat on the bench in the pharmacy I just watched people. I know I looked out of place in that store. For one thing I was a middle aged white guy sitting in the middle of this busy grocery store. It was Saturday and most people were there very causally dressed and I was sitting there in a suit. I saw them come in. A little boy and what appeared to be his Grandfather. At first I thought this little child had a physical problem that was inhibiting his ability to walk and then I realized he had a sandal that was coming loose. The whole sole was barely hanging on and he was trying to walk so that it would be under his foot instead of out to the side. It tore at my heart to see him. As the older man he was with shopped in the pharmacy the little boy came and sat by me. The bench wasn’t very big but he was going to check out this dressed up guy. He began with the questions: “Why do you have a coat on? Why don’t you have sandals on? Why don’t you like sandals? What are you doing here?” They just kept coming until the older man called him away. “See ya,” he said and walked away. I am sure I will never see him again, although he took a piece of my heart with him. He touched me on a lot of levels but what an example of the curiousness of a child.

He wanted to know. Do you want to know? Do you long to know more about God and His word? I believe that God calls us to curiosity and discovery.

3. Little children have a sense of innocence.

I know that we lose some a lot of our innocence just because we have to grow up but I am afraid that sometimes we take it too far. I am appalled at what parents let their children watch and listen to sometimes. I have literally had parents say to me that they don’t think it makes any difference because they are going to be exposed to things out in the real world so why keep anything back from them when they are little. Well, I can think of a lot of reasons but maybe you ought to read the rest of Jesus teaching in Matthew 18. He continues to use the little child and says that if you offend or destroy the faith of a little child it would be better for you to be attached to large rock and thrown into a lake. Now I suggested to you earlier that Jesus was upset but he takes seriously the destruction of children’s innocence.

Let me just suggest to you that it is okay to not know everything about the culture. It is okay to not have to explore every experience. I am convinced that we have lost a lot of innocence. We sometimes have plunged way too deeply into the filth of this world. It leaves us jaded and cynical and with a sense of lost innocence that I believe we need to maintain if we are to follow Christ.

4. Little children are spontaneous.

You never know what you are going to get. Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby have entertained us with asking questions of little children and getting responses that you just couldn’t even plant in their minds. Little children will run up to you and give you a hug just because you have given them a little attention. They react with life and enthusiasm that can sometimes wear you out but how wonderful it is when compared with the dull and boring lives that we too often live as adults.

While listening to the song "Train Up a Child," my daughter Emily asked me what "train up" means. I explained that it means to teach children about God and the difference between right and wrong. "Are you and Daddy training me up?" she asked."We're trying to," I said. Emily turned back to the stereo and muttered, "We'll see about that." Citation: Ann W., Bradenton, Florida; source: Christian Parenting Today (January/February 2000)

5. Little children are filled with a sense of wonder.

All you have to say is Christmas. When you were little if exposed to the whole Santa thing, you knew it probably wasn’t true but you were filled with wonder. Kids wonder about their future and what they will be when they grow up. Kids wonder about why things are the way they are. The pastor noticed little Alex staring at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. It was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning, Alex."

"Good morning," replied the young man, still focused on the plaque. "What is this?" Alex asked.

"Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."

Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Alex's voice was trembling and barely audible when he asked, "Which service, the 9:00 or the 10:45?

I think that God is interested in us never losing our sense of wonder. We can be filled with a sense of wonder about Him, about heaven, about what God wants to do next in our lives.

Even when you have gone through a life-altering experience like some of you have in recent days you will find that God is not standing somewhere way far away. He draws close to you during your times of challenge and sorrow. He will be there if you don’t lose your sense of wonder.

6. Little children are dependent on others.

Children are dependent on adults to guide them, provide for them and to show them how to do life.

They look to us as adults for examples of how to trust in God.

Ellen White helps us with what Jesus was getting at when He said we must become likelittle children: "The simplicity, the self-forgetfulness, and the confiding love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values. These are the characteristics of real greatness"(The Desire of Ages, p. 437).

If I've learned one thing about God's provision and answered prayer, in almost 20 years of single-parenting, it is this: When we've exhausted our own resources, God often provides in a most unusual way -- so we recognize it's His doing, not ours!

One of my greatest lessons in faith took place when my son, 2 years old, asked for a tricycle. As a single mother, I often could not afford anything beyond rent and utilities. I had only $5, and we needed to buy milk and bread.

"New tricycles are expensive," I told Jonathan. "So let's pray and ask God." In his childlike faith, he agreed.

"What color of trike do you want?" I asked him, explaining that God likes us to be specific when we pray, so we'll know the answer is from him."Green, my favorite color," he answered, matter-of-factly.

"And we don't want a rusty one," I added. (I admit, I suddenly became a little nervous, the more specific we got in our request. What if God didn't come through? I wondered. My little boy's faith might be shattered. Recognizing the source of that thought, I rebuked the fear.)

Always scraping to make ends meet, as a single mom, I often took advantage of opportunities to teach my child how, even without money, we could be "rich in faith" (Jas 2:5), "rich in good deeds" (1 Tim 6:18), "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4), etc.

Many times, however, I probably learned more from the experience than he!

We got in our old Chrysler and, since we had only $5, decided to visit a yard sale or two.

"Let's ask that it be at one of the first ones we find, so we don't waste a lot of time," I said.

At the first place we stopped, Jon began running up the driveway, saying, "Look, Mom, my trike! My trike!" Before I could say anything, he had hopped on the green tricycle and was driving it in circles. It was in such good condition, I really didn't think it was for sale.

"Some kid who lives here probably just left it in the yard," I said, doubting. "There's no tag on it."

"But it's green, Mom, and it's not rusty! It must be mine!" Jon argued.

He was right; it wasn't rusty at all. In fact, it was in such good condition, I told him, that even if it was part of the yard sale (and not some kid's who lived there) it would certainly cost more than we could afford.

"But Mom, we prayed!" (ouch! I felt that.)

I asked if the tricycle was for sale, how much it was.

"Oh, that's been in the attic for years," she said. "We don't need it. How much were you thinking?"

"Three-fifty?" I asked, almost apologetically, thinking about the milk and bread we would need to buy on the way home.

She paused. (This was a ridiculous price, to be sure. I felt embarrassed to have even suggested it.) We both glanced at Jonathan zooming around and around in circles on her driveway.

"Sure, why not?" she agreed.

And that's how Jonathan got his nice green trike.

While I have never studied the basics of mathematical probability, I know the "chance" of finding a green tricycle, without rust, under $5, at the first yard sale we visited, on that particular day, was quite slim.

But "nothing is impossible with God."

Now that my son is grown and driving a car (yes, a car someone gave him for free, in answer to prayer), I often wonder: how different it might have been, had we not had to pray, many times, of necessity, for our needs to be supplied. When we have money in our pockets, it seems, we don't pray for "our daily bread," as Jesus instructed. We just go to the store and buy some.

I have also learned that God is stronger than even my unbelief. Even "if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself." (2 Tim 2:13)

That green tricycle now is stored in our basement. Every time I see it, I am reminded how God showed himself so real to us that day -- through the faith of a little child.


7. Little children practice love and forgiveness.

Remember these words, “I hate you.” “I will never play with you again.” “I am going home, give me my ball.”

What always happened after these words were spoken? Usually within an hour one of us would be knocking on the door of the other kids house asking if he or she could come out and play. What ever happened to that kind of conflict resolution?

Why do adults love to harbor and nurse wounds? Why do we love to carry our grudges around with us like they are some kind of badge of honor?

Can’t you just forgive and move on?

8. Little children are open to learning.

Now I know that there are teachers in this room would are not convinced about this truth but the fact of the matter is children want to learn. They might not want to learn what you’re teaching but they want to learn. They will learn from the TV or video’s or the kids on the street. They are learners and even the most challenged are learning as they grow up.

I was open to learning as a child but put me in a traditional classroom and I would be frustrated beyond belief. To be honest with you I think that is why I like this church so much. I have a low threshold for the pain of boring church service as well.

We should be more like little children and ask God to give us back a spirit of learning. Quit acting like the proverbial old dog and learn a few new tricks. Open yourself to something new.

9. Little children have a built-in sense of worship.

We all had our heroes. Sports figures or musicians or someone we saw on television or in a movie. All of us have a built-in sense of worship. The question is have you directed it toward God?

10. Little children don’t have a lot of inhibitions.

I have already alluded to the fact that children have not learned to hold back. They will be the first to be excited if something happens. They love to connect and feel loved. It is children who scream the loudest when excited, or blurt out things, or say what they are feeling and thinking. They don’t hold back. They just live and love.

What holds you back? What defense mechanisms have you put in place that keep you from sharing your life with others?

Some of you are avoiding small groups because of inhibitions. I know because for many years I had no desire to be a part of a small group. The fact is you need to be close to other people and do life with them.

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard. Kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money, and I look away. Kids see someone smiling at them, and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm, so I sit self-consciously and listen. Kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words, and if they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. Kids close their eyes, spread their arms, and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say "thee" and "thou" and "grant me this" and "give me that." Kids say, "Hi, God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to heaven yet. I would miss Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle, I step around it. I see muddy shoes and clothes and dirty carpets. Kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves the little children! Citation: From the Internet; submitted by Debi Zahn; Sandwich, Illinois

11. Little children are trusting.

I don’t need to say much here. Children trust. They have no choice. Adults are their providers and protectors. How are you doing with trust?

Author, pastor, and onetime atheist Lee Strobel says in one sermon:How can I tell you the difference God has made in my life? My daughter Allison was 5 years old when I became a follower of Jesus, and all she had known in those 5 years was a dad who was profane and angry. I remember I came home one night and kicked a hole in the living-room wall just out of anger with life. I am ashamed to think of the times Allison hid in her room to get away from me.Five months after I gave my life to Jesus Christ, that little girl went to my wife and said, "Mommy, I want God to do for me what he's done for Daddy." At age 5! What was she saying? She'd never studied the archaeological evidence [regarding the truth of the Bible]. All she knew was her dad used to be this way: hard to live with. But more and more her dad is becoming different. And if that is what God does to people, then sign her up. At age 5 she gave her life to Jesus.God changed my family. He changed my world. He changed my eternity.Citation: Lee Strobel, author and teaching pastor at Saddleback Church; Lake Forest, California, from sermon "The Case for Christ"Let me give you an example of what Christ was teaching. He wants us to be filled with humility and servant-hood. He wants us to care about others. He wants us to love.

Jack Kelley, foreign affairs editor for USA Today and nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, tells this story:We were in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, in East Africa, during a famine. It was so bad we walked into one village and everybody was dead. There is a stench of death that gets into your hair, gets onto your skin, gets onto your clothes, and you can't wash it off.We saw this little boy. You could tell he had worms and was malnourished; his stomach was protruding. When a child is extremely malnourished, the hair turns a reddish color, and the skin becomes crinkled as though he's one hundred years old.Our photographer had a grapefruit, which he gave to the boy. The boy was so weak he didn't have the strength to hold the grapefruit, so we cut it in half and gave it to him. He picked it up, looked at us as if to say thanks, and began to walk back towards his village.We walked behind him in a way that he couldn't see us. When he entered the village, there on the ground was a little boy who I thought was dead. His eyes were completely glazed over. It turned out that this was his younger brother. The older brother kneeled down next to his younger brother, bit off a piece of the grapefruit, and chewed it. Then he opened up his younger brother's mouth, put the grapefruit in, and worked his brother's jaw up and down. We learned that the older brother had been doing that for the younger brother for two weeks.A couple days later the older brother died of malnutrition, and the younger brother lived. I remember driving home that night thinking, I wonder if this is what Jesus meant when he said, "There is no greater love than to lay down our life for somebody else."

Citation: Jack Kelley, USA Today reporter, from message "The Stories Behind the Headlines," given at Evangelical Press Association convention in May 2000

2004/08/15