With faith like a child...

It seems like lately God has been bombarding me with the importance of the idea that we must be like children in our lives of faith. This week, especially, the concept has been everywhere I turn. On Tuesday I was reflecting on Matthew 18:1-5, which reads:

“At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, ‘Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.’”

Oddly at that same time I heard Jars of Clay’s “Like a Child” coming from my teammate’s room. Like I said, I felt like everywhere I turned the idea was waiting for me.

So the next questions in my mind – what does being child-like look like and why?

Thankfully Christ has provided me not only with the questions but the tools to find the answers – two of the main places I have been volunteering here – the Booneville Boys and Girls Club and the Booneville Human Development Center (Let’s face it: The clients at the BHDC have child-like love figured out).

What does it look like?

Why would Christ say we must be like a child to enter the kingdom? This is what I have gathered: Monday through Thursday, I spend my afternoons at the Boys and Girls Club. It is not unusual for me to get there and receive numerous hugs from some of the kids I have been helping with homework. By the end of the day I can almost guarantee to leave with at least one drawing that more than likely says, “I love you,” somewhere amongst the flowers and hearts and butterflies.

Why like a child?

Thursday was only my eighth day at the club. To these children, it doesn’t matter who I am or why I am here – really all I have done for them is help them with math or read with them and maybe played the occasional game.

And this is the same way God loves us. It doesn’t matter who we are or what we do. Shane Claiborne points this out in The Irresistible Revolution when recounting a discussion he had with a friend who said, “‘… Jesus never talked to a prostitute because he didn’t see a prostitute. He just saw a child of God he was madly in love with,’” (page 266).

That right there is the secret – when we begin to see with the eyes of a child and love with the heart of a child, embracing our enemies and loving those who seem unlovable will be possible because all of our differences fade away and we can’t help but see each other as children of God.

So, there you have it. Now if only I can figure out how to become like a child… that part is still to come.