7 Nov 2013 by Natasha Kim CM-
Not all great minds think alike but they can be one in Christ. Do you agree? The fact is, God made everyone different from one another from personalities to fine differences in hand prints and more. So, why do we receive an equal learning system when clearly, most of us do not think alike? Not all of us are able to learn the same way. It requires different teaching methods to unlock one's fullest potential. An interesting fact is that many adults push children to grow up! But according to the Bible, God asks us to be child-like. Truly God’s ways are unlike our ways; He is creative and He loves variety. His ways are more precise than we can comprehend.
And they sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
(Revelation 5:9-10)
Human beings generally tend to move away from things or people who are unusual. However, notice that God's glory is so great that He even requires different expressions of praise and that is also why he created different types of people. What kind of sound would an orchestra make if every member played a violin? To produce a beautiful and harmonious sound, individual orchestra members must unite their diverse talents and instruments under the direction of a skilled conductor. Even though we are different, we can all be united if we follow the conductor.
When our hearts and minds are not open, we do not take the time to appreciate the beautiful things that we could see in people. If only most of us appreciate the things we cannot see a fighting chance, we might actually be able to build stronger connections with one another. The Bible in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, tells us that things which are seen are only temporary while things which are not seen are eternal. Only God is able to fill any diminished capacity with a larger spiritual capacity within a person.
If people would be more "child-like" (not childish) in their endeavors, just as God wants us to be, they would be able to accomplish so much and love one another. Children make the most of their time. They have the humility, victory, innocence, faith, revelation, transformation, and a hunger in them that are never-ending. While growing up, you would constantly hear people say, "You should be", "It's better if", "Why don't you." Children then observe and they get caught up in most of the society's flawed way of thinking; they would feel the need to become like everyone else. This either makes them conform or rebel in a negative way. Why do people like children better than adults? The mind is flawed when it begins to follow what the world requires of them. Instead of looking at each other’s flaws, what we can all do is to focus on being more child-like.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHILD-LIKE HEART
1. Humility
A child sees no differences in race, class, colour, status, etc. At a young age, they are friendly among themselves without noticing their differences. The Lord wants us to become humble like them, to not forget how we used to be, and to relate to everyone without distinctions. Above all, He wants us to stop comparing ourselves with other's and to stop competing with other's for greatness and superiority; only then, we will be considered the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
(Matthew 18:1-6)
2. Faith
A child’s heart is simple and trusting and is not filled with disbelief and suspicion. Their faith is simple. It is not filled with questions, neither is it cynical or skeptical. A child-like heart is quick to repent and will accept forgiveness easily so that fellowship will be restored. The Lord wants us to have a simple child-like faith in Him and His promises so that we can receive great blessings from God. The Lord warns us that without this child-like faith, we will not enter the Kingdom of God. Change yourself, repent and you will receive His forgiveness and be restored to fellowship with Him.
People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
(Luke 18:15-17)
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
(1 John 2: 1,12)
3. Innocence
A child’s heart is a heart that is full of love and is not filled with evil, malice, or wickedness. It is a pure and innocent heart. The Lord wants us to have such a child-like heart of innocence, purity, and true love. Our hearts must never be involved in plotting evil and planning harm to anyone. We must be filled with a true love for God and our fellowmen. However the Lord wants us to be wise, prudent, and mature in our thinking and decisions. Be not childish but instead be child-like in our hearts.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
(1 Corinthians 14:20)
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
(1 John 3:18)
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart
(1 Peter 1:22)
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.
(1 Corinthians 13:11)
4. Victory
A child-like heart is a heart of victory over the enemy! The Lord delights in using a child-like heart to defeat all the forces of the enemy. A child with God can defeat the enemy because greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world because in us, we have the kingdom of God. Therefore, when we praise the Lord with a child-like heart, we will experience victory in our battles.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
(I John 4:4)
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
(Psalm 8:2)
Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read," ’From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?
(Matthew 21:16)
5. Revelation
A child-like heart is a heart that receives revelations from the Lord because it is teachable and always eager to learn new things. The Lord reveals His secrets to those who have a child-like heart. Those who consider themselves very wise and knowledgeable, will be not be eager and humble enough to learn from the Lord and they will not receive revelations from God. However, those who have a child-like heart will be blessed by the Lord and His divine revelations. Let your hearts not be hardened, you must be teachable and hungry enough to receive revelations from the Lord.
At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."
(Matthew 11:25-26)
6. Transformation
A child-like heart is a heart that can be transformed because it is easy to train and shape a child. The Lord wants us to be child-like so that He can mould us and transform us into the image of Christ. If we do not become child-like in our hearts, it would be very difficult for the Lord to transform us. Humans are often set and rigid in their ways when they become older and it becomes very difficult to receive anything new. Have a child-like heart which is pliable so that you can experience a transformation in your life.
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.
(Galatians 4:19)
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
(Proverbs 22:6)
7. Hunger
A child-like heart is a heart that is hungry for spiritual nourishment (the Word of God), just like how a newborn babe craves for milk. If we have lost our spiritual hunger, it is a sure sign of a spiritual illness in our lives. However, the Lord also wants us to grow up and learn to take solid food and strong meat. We should not always live on milk, but we must progress and grow into taking strong meat, which are deep truths of the Word of God.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
(1 Peter 2:1-2)
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
(Hebrews 5:12-14)
God made us different to unite us in a glorious symphony with His Son, who has always been in perfect harmony with His Father! The love of God unites all Christians because it transcends national, cultural, economic, and racial differences because God makes us one in his Son. Each of us are unique and that’s why not all great minds think alike.
On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed for the unity of future believers:
And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them, and you in me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me
(John 17:22-23)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
(1 Peter 5:6-7)
Note: The writer was inspired to write this article based on reading different articles and also listening to a sermon in Sermon Central below. For more information, please refer to the references below.
References for Articles
http://www.gotquestions.org/does-God-love-everyone.html
Reference for Pictures
www.unfadingelegance.blogspot.com
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