Do you remember the time when some people brought their children to Jesus for His blessing? His friends and disciples tried to prevent it. I guess they were trying to protect Jesus from the onslaught because they thought that He was busy enough and had more important things to do. Often Jesus’ disciples back then and throughout history, thought that they knew best how to deal with people “for Jesus,” but He usually had a much more gracious point of view. So, in essence, Jesus said, “Hey, don’t stop those kids! The Kingdom of God belongs to them. Unless you receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, you can’t enter into it.” That sounds harsh; as if Jesus was saying you can’t go to heaven unless you become childish. It’s the same sort of thing that stumped Nicodemus, when he asked, “How can a person be born when he’s old?” But I don’t think that Jesus was talking about going to heaven or about literally becoming a child.
Let me share a story with you to illustrate exactly what I think Jesus meant. It’s a true story, and it comes from Emily McKenney. This is what happened. Emily was trying to prepare for the Altar Guild dinner, which was to be at her home. She had her grandchildren, Megan and Sean, in tow. Ah, but Sean had a different objective in mind, and Megan was looking out for her little brother’s need. You see, he had a project to do for school - he needed to find a horseshoe crab. Alas, horseshoe crabs are in short supply on Rhode Island beaches in May (they come ashore later in the summer). But Emily’s grandkids were bound and determined to find a horseshoe crab. They both told Emily that they had prayed about it (something they’d learned at St. Paul’s, no doubt) and they were sure that God would provide Sean with a horseshoe crab for his school project. So, good naturedly, Emily took them to Plum Beach, knowing that there would never be any horseshoe crabs there at that time of year. She was right, of course.
Later, as she drove them home, the kids begged Emily to stop at the Town Beach along the way. Now Emily knew that if there were no horseshoe crabs to be found at Plum Beach in May it would be impossible to find one at Town Beach, since, after all, there aren’t even shells on that beach, let alone horseshoe crabs in the month of May. But the kids reiterated that they had prayed about it, and they were sure that God would provide a horseshoe crab for Sean’s project. Softy that she is, Emily walked them along Town Beach. Megan ran ahead to the far end of the beach and soon called out, “I found one!” Sure enough, when Emily and Sean got to the spot, they looked at where Megan was pointing and spied a big, old horseshoe crab. The problem was that it was out under a few feet of cold, May water. The kids started to motion to it with their fingers to come to them, and, behold, it started to move slowly toward the beach. Emily sent them to the car to get a net, while she kept her eyes on the critter. They left Emily with strict instruction to keep beckoning to the crab with her fingers. When the kids left, the crab nestled itself under a rock. When Sean and Megan returned, they asked Emily if she had motioned to it the right way. Then they started in again and motioned to it with their fingers to come to shore. And so it did. Inch by inch and foot by foot it slowly crawled to shore. And so, in the tale of the great quest for the horseshoe crab, Sean received his prize.
That’s faith for you. It may not have moved mountains, but it sure moved that horseshoe crab.
Jesus’ point during the incident with the children back in His time was simple. You receive the Kingdom of God, that is, you experience God’s rule and His provision, by trusting God as simply and as earnestly as a little child trusts. That’s the kind of faith which enables you to see the Kingdom of God in operation – enables you to enter into God’s concrete leadership and provision. Jesus’ point was clear. Trust God the way little children trust, and you’ll be able to see God working so that you’ll be able to join God. That’s when you’ll be able to see God better, trust God more; and grow in His work day by day. Trust, pray, act, and trust God some more. That’s God’s kingdom in action, and how to enter into it.
Affectionately in Christ,
Phil +