From The Mouth Of Babes...
By Rozie37
@Rozie37 (15499)
Turkmenistan
October 31, 2007 2:54am CST
"...everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. They also were amazed at his answers"-Luke 3:47 (NIRV)
How often do you and I not stop and listen to the words of a child? We think we are to busy, we are too important and what can a child add to my understanding? I have learned something in my years as a parent and working in a ministry with children that the answer to that question is a lot. A whole lot actually.
If you've read Scripture, you'll recognize the above as the passage where Jesus confounds those who were "scholarly" and those who were supposed to know the law so well. I can only imagine myself being one of these Jewish scholars and hearing his words. I bet I could have been knocked over with a feather. Some of his understanding was undoubtedly given to him by God via the Holy Spirit in greater abundance because of the role he would soon fulfill in history, but children have an immense amount of wisdom that I think we sometimes take for granted.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul instructs us "...God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down upon. He chose what is not considered to be important to do away with what is considered to be important." (1 Cor 1:27-28 NIRV emphasis mine).
Any time I get a bloated sense of myself I only need to read this passage to remind me of how things work in God's economy. Children have a sense of the divine because they are humble by nature. Humility is something that is cultivated out of them as they grow older. Children can teach us so much.
As you read these words I challenge you to listen. Listen for the voice of God in the smallest things. The voice of God can be heard in your children, your nieces and nephews, your neighbors' etcetera. God will use the small and "unimportant" to teach us what truly is important, which is walking humbly with our God in all things. I think we all could endeavor to be more "child like" in our faith.
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4 responses
@Flight84 (3048)
• United States
4 Nov 07
This is so true. We as adults can learn so muxh from children. I have a book with Bible stories in it at the daycare I work at, and those kids will touch your heart wanting to hear those stories. They tell them right along with me. Even at two years old, they want to know and understand why Noah built the Ark and about Joseph and his coat of many colors. Adam and Eve. It's wonderful to hear them tell their parents when they get picked up too. I learn a patience from them and I know many adults that could benefit from taking a few lessons from a child. They are ot judgemental and they listen to what you have to say with an open mind and an open heart.
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@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
5 Nov 07
The thing that I think I love the most about children is that their innocence allows them to be able to detect whether someone is being real or not. They are very wise like that. They can look in your eyes and know what type of person you really are. One may not notice their uneasiness, but it is there. That's why we love it when a baby smiles at us.
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
1 Nov 07
Hi Rozie37! I do agree with you completely that we could also learn from the children. They look life differently and in their innocent and simple way of thinking always comes out the real truth. I just hope that we could really have that child like faith where faith and trust in the Lord is genuine and complete. Take care and have a nice day my dear friend.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
31 Oct 07
So true. Children do have such an innocence about them and we could learn a lot from it.
1 person likes this