Like a Child

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

Earlier today, I was walking from one building to another and, as I was walking, I passed a group of our guests visiting this week who were going the opposite direction. I saw a group of kids marching along singing “I am a C. I am a C-H. I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N.” They didn’t know the rest of the song, so they just kept shout-chanting over and over again “I am a C. I am a C-H. I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N.”

Hearing that at that moment filled me with such joy and was truly a gift – scripture tells us that children are gifts from the Lord. These little children are being trained up right and are so excited about God. From the lips of children and infants, the Lord has called out His praise (Matthew 21:16). It made me think of what Jesus said in the gospels about children.

“He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:2-5).

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:13-15).

The kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these… we can learn a lot from children, can’t we? What if we had faith like a child? What if our humility, innocence, and joy was like that of a child? It’s like 1 Timothy 4:12 says:  “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

There is such a joy that comes with a child-like faith. Most people we know wouldn’t go around shout-chanting “I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N” in public, but I know too many people that wouldn’t even be comfortable talking about their faith among friends. Our job as adults is to teach children and train them up in the way they should go… but sometimes children can be some of the greatest teachers and best examples of God’s goodness, as well.

Erin
Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She had served on Summer Staff since 2011, and in 2015 had the unique opportunity of co-directing Children’s Ministry with one of her best friends. She is very excited to continue to build relationships with the guests and be very involved in the ministry.