Like a Child
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3
My friend Marge had finished talking with me and was about ready to say good-bye when her son Danny said, "Let's pray for Jason." And so she prayed with Danny giving a hearty "Amen!" at the end. They left with Danny waving as he said, "Bye!" I loved it when I got to see Danny because his enthusiasm for Jesus was contagious. Due to his Down Syndrome, he acted like a playful seven-year-old even though he was in his twenties at the time.
Because of his childlike attitude, Danny never tried to analyze God. He didn't question the Lord's motives or doubt His love. Danny just accepted God for who He is and placed his trust in Him. He eagerly told people about Jesus like a child showing off his new bicycle. He was never concerned he was going to rub people the wrong way. After all, who wouldn't want to hear about Jesus?
Some skeptics believe that in order to become a Christian a person must shut off his brain. Rather, I believe a person's thinking must be changed. People need some childlike thinking. An attitude of distrust must turn into an attitude of trust. A focus on independence must turn into a focus on dependence. A know-it-all nature must turn into a knowledge-seeking nature. A belief in self must turn into a belief in One greater than ourselves.
People may call my friend Danny retarded, but I believe in many ways he is ahead of us all. May we all have that childlike enthusiasm about Jesus.
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