Like a Child.

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on March 29, 2009 at 12:01pm

1CO 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Have you ever watched children play in a play area? Have you never seen the selfish actions of kids with the "It's mine" attitude hording toys or taking them away from another? Being a child does not mean to be absent of issues. To be an adult does not mean one has to live life as you protray it either. I am an adult. I live life as an adult and thoroughly enjoy life. Adulthood means responsibility and that is unescapable, nor is it a lifetealer.

BTW, what is a stock-up attitude?

Food for Thought,
LT

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Permalink Reply by Carla on March 29, 2009 at 2:14pm

Hi Onyeka,

We each go thru our seasons of life. I am thankful for the learning that I have gone through at each season of life..and I know that I have so much more to learn.

I have only regained my childlike faith the past couple years....Thanks to Jesus.
We are to be always wise and discerning...but to have faith like children. And we are children.. we are God's children.

God wants us to grow up....and yet maintain a childlike faith and Awe..because HE is Awesome. Children are so often easily swayed in their opinions, but as Christians, God does not want us to be easily swayed....

Children often have no idea who they are...they are constantly 'searching for themselves....' As we grow in our faith and maturity as a Christian, we learn who we are in Christ. We are actually defined by Him....for Him...our identity is in Jesus... we have died with Him...and are raised to new life in Him. We truly learn that it actually has nothing to do with us.

God wants us to be like children in our Love for Him....and Reverence, and Wonderment, and Obedience. He trains us to be discerning, and wise...and loving, and giving. It is God's desire that we live the fruits of the Spirit, because of what He has given us. All of this can only be attained by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit...and life experience, which God leads us through.

Do you believe that God will use everything to teach us and shape us to be the person HE intends us to be? I believe that....because I have seen that first hand in my life time and time again. The seasons we go through are for a purpose. If you are talking about holding on to your child-like faith....then that is wonderful. We are saved by faith...

Psa 116:6 The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and then he saved me.

Luk 10:21 Then Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

however....we are also to be maturing and growing constantly in our Knowledge and Faith.

Eph 4:13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.

I pray that my own children will hold on to their faith and love for Christ that they now have as Children....but just as importantly, I pray that they will grow in their knowledge so that they will one day measure up to their full stature of Christ...when they will one day meet Jesus.

We are all always learning in this life.....it is my hope that you never come to a point when you know 'enough'.

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on March 30, 2009 at 6:43am

Greetings Obi,

Yes, we agree when we view it as Carla and you put it as "child like faith" and "child like innocence." That does not negate the fact that we will mature and become adults and learn to walk like adults and act like adults. I agree that children learn some things from their parents or other adults, but other things come to them naturally including a certain selfishness at a very young age. Even children are affected by the fallen nature of creation and man. Regarding Paul's writting, it is part of a teaching. If he did not negate it, which he did not, then it stands as the right course of life and one we are to embrace. It would make no sense for Paul to state this and mean that it is not a good thing and not state as much.

Lord Bless,
LT

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