"Faith like a child."

"2 And calling to him a child, Jesus put the child in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest

in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:2-4

I love watching my kids worship. Their understanding is simple, yet sweet. No matter what they are going through, they always seem to tie their circumstances to God's activity. They have an unrelenting trust in God's sovereignty and control that is challenging. They have a humble willingness to call their sin sin, to confess, and to ask for forgiveness, not so much fearing the consequences of discipline but disappointing their Father. Their prayers are often short, to the point, and as personal as if He were sitting right next to them. Their hunger to hear God's Word and their ability to recall passages we've read from the day before is genuine. They demonstrate passionate thankfulness for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, knowing God is faithful and willing to forgive them.

I say all of this not to boast in my children or, worse, to brag of my parenting. I can assure you it is not because my family has had perfect Family Worship. It is not because I have always set the best example as a follower of Jesus to them. I am writing this blog because I am constantly challenged in not trying to lose the childlike faith Jesus calls me to have. The older I get the more I am tempted to be self-reliant and independent. Like growing up in life and no longer depending on your parents, there is a temptation to grow up in faith and no longer depend on Jesus.

I want to not just know about Jesus, but to know Him personally. I want to talk to Him as if He were right in the room. I want to tie all the circumstances of life to God's activity. I want to have an unrelenting trust in His sovereignty and control. I want to humbly and quickly repent of sin, and be more concerned with disappointing the Father than experiencing His discipline. I want to have a hunger for God's Word and to remember. Wouldn't it be good to remember? I want to be thankful for Jesus and all that He has done. I want a childlike faith.

What about you? Have you lost your childlike faith? Have you traded dependence on Christ for self-reliance and independence? What are some ways you can demonstrate a childlike faith today?