Not Childish, But Childlike
Curiously, it is deep into Jesus' earthly ministry when he gives his disciples this much-needed lesson. Maybe it's because the disciples have witnessed so much and know they are a part of something special - something of eternal and cosmic significance. So they begin to scrounge for authority and importance. They begin to grasp for identity (as do we all throughout our lives). They become children. But the wrong kind. They're selfish, greedy, and self-absorbed.
Jesus then instructs them to be children, but in a different way. They are to be innocent, obedient, trusting, and EQUAL. Children, though buffeted by pride, don't have official "leaders" amongst them - leaders with titles, that is. Sure, there are natural leaders, by virtue of their particular gifts. But they all have eye-to-eye relationships. And they are to be naive in their trust for God. Blindly trusting.
Sadly, few ministers - much less, Christians - ever have a mentor or discipler give them this same lesson. And this is probably why so many of us act like children with our hunger for titles and our egomania run amuck.
Created 11 months ago
