Nougat 2

What is your approach to faith? Is it on again off again, always faith-filled, or a serious work in progress, or perhaps just needing to progress? Whatever your response, someone in this group is likely to share your concern. Given that we’ve all sinned and fall short of glorifying God, there’s always going to be room for improvement. Today’s Holy Nougat offers us food for thought

Mark 10:15 NIV

[15] Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Like A Child

I tell you, when we consider the back story to our Nougat, we might think twice about those disciples of Jesus. They took ‘children must be seen and not heard to a new dimension.’ And shortly after, their behavior was not very adult. I would say that it was childish, but perhaps that’s not fair to children either. Ironically, the disciples’ attitude towards the children is not far different from many of us towards children or youth, so maybe we shouldn’t judge them too harshly. They were simply trying to protect Jesus’ time and space by sending the children away. Thankfully, Jesus saw them and intervened.

His response is what fuels our reflection.

Jesus says that we must receive, that is – accept positively or welcome – the Kingdom of God Like a Child if we wish to enter it. Hmmn

One might query, ‘like which child?’ Well, Jesus didn’t say. I think His bigger point was to have us look at children and youth with new eyes. I was blessed with such an opportunity recently, when caught in airport/flight cancellations with a family that included a child with a disability. It is worth sharing that the child was not perturbed by the cancellations. The parents were. Rather, being wholly rambunctious and curious, the child was busy exploring the surroundings … new territory to claim as playground. The parents occasionally tried to apologize, but we all understood the limitations. Soon, someone came to the family’s rescue, and new arrangements were made for them; while us others waited for another 90 minutes.

When we ‘receive’ God’s Kingdom, do we see it as new territory to explore? And when those ‘flight delays’ come our way, are we trying to solve ‘God’s Problems’ or are we making the most of the delay?

While the child explored, some youth started a full football match – all eight of them – using a pair of socks as the football, and their back packs to create the goal. It gets me thinking that when life sucks, play sock football! The youth were not perturbed. They expected a solution to be found, not necessarily what they received, and chose to play their way through the crisis. A reminder to us, perhaps, to *pray* or praise our way through Life’s crises?

Further, I don’t know that those children whom the disciples rejected actually knew that they were going to see Jesus. They were simply following their parents’ lead. Some might actually have asked to be touched by Jesus, but essentially, they were under their parents’ authority. If by Faith, we receive the Kingdom of God like a child, it could be that Jesus wants us to follow God’s lead and be under God’s authority. Then, despite what presents, we know there’s a plan – God’s plans – even if it doesn’t go the way we expect.

Hmmn; radical thought there.

What do you think?

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May all we seek be found in Christ