Morning Devotional- 9-22-09

Luke 18:15-17

"Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when they saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the dingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

Jesus says we all must come as a little child. What character traits does an infant possess that is necessary for the Christian to rightly approach Almighty God. The infant expresses utter dependence for his or her every need. We are to cloth our every need in prayer recognizing that everything we have including our next breath is given by God. The attitude of self-sufficiency denies that God knows our needs and denies that God supplies us with our needs in His own timing. Unless one always brings their needs before the Father they cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Another aspect of the infant related to the first is humility of position. The first may be called humility in provision. Humility of position, however, is where the young child clearly reognizes their weakness, smallness, and frailty when compared to the parent. We must see ourselves as we truly are if we are to rightly approach God. We are weak- God supplies us with power and strength via His Holy Spirit and apart from Him we can do nothing good in the Kingdom of God. Coming to God as an infant includes humility of one's position in recognizing we are weak on our own to do God's will. Our smallness also needs to be recognized. When compared to God we are the tiniest of creatures. Our pride would tell us that we are large and in charge of our lives, but Jesus says we must come as an infant- knowing our small stature and weak nature before an all powerful God. We must also, if we are to come to the kingdom of God, recognize like an infant does is our frailty. Even if we are capable of roundhouse-kicks to the face when facing other men; before Almighty God we could be crushed under the weight of His nose hair. God is big and you are not. Last but not least is the infant trusts and can do nothing but trust their lives into their Father's care. Self-willed individuals reject God by making their own plans and refusing to bring them to God in humble prayer. This individual also refuses to line up their plans with God's written revelation found in the Word of God. To recap:

Let God supply our needs

Recognize apart from God you can do nothing

Know that God is big and you are not.

Know that God is strong and you are not

Trust your life into the care of God. He knows better than you do.

Rather than growing up in your own pride, grow down and approach God as a little child. You will by no means enter the kingdom of God unless you do so.