Being childlike

Story: “Ozias and strength from God”

December last year I got some wonderful news, Jessica was pregnant. This was something that brought her and I a great deal of joy. We were so excited to call this child our own. I am always amazed that God gave us the opportunity to create a little us. One thing that has been identified in my family as I grew up was I was the last Trevor male in my family. So with that information my grandpa and father often made it known, in light heated joking, that Jessica and I would need to have a son. Being the person I am, I was happy to start with a healthy child never mind a specific gender. For me this experience meant that I would have the joy and responsibility to impact this little person throughout their life on this earth. As a movie fan, I enjoy movies with two specific plot point. Character development, I love to watch the changes made in the lives of the people in the film. And the second is the ending, I always like to see a character make it through the climax moment with a victory that lifts my spirit. These interests I feel will play a role in the development of my child. I’m thrilled that I get to be a character that will impact my son to encourage his life victories.

Explanation of the message, working through humility.

Many if not all of us have experienced the love of God to the point where we have accepted our dependence on God by believing in the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It was in that moment that we are called children of God. I can remember when I was at camp for the first time; I got the chance to declare my trust and faith in God. This experience for me was one that would create truth in my heart that God was my source. As we accept God for who He is in our lives we begin the journey of dependence. As infants, we are fully reliant on our parents or guardians. Over the past week I have been looking into scripture to identify why we must be childlike and the impact it has on our lives.

Prayer:

*Stress; Not Childishness:

Paul speaks of childishness in 1 Corinthians 13:11

A person that is childish compared to childlike may be walking in the knowledge of God and his purposes but not growing in thm. In Romans 12:2 it says, “2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” This verse seeks of action of development. As new baby Christians we are looking to God for guidance in our lives so that we can grow and mature. In chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians Paul talks about childish was ways. He is speaking of the change that comes in his life as he matured in his faith walk. His opinions were built in immaturity and therefore he didn’t have the will of God in mind.

▶ having reached a stage of mental or emotional development characteristic of an adult; grown-up.

▶ (of thought or planning) careful and thorough.

In Obedience: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Working in God’s saving grace

Faith (saved by grace in our faith in Jesus) is the action of our holiness

We walk through life with God learning how to be obedient

Illustration:

I am going to impact the life of Ozias and in his time as a child and adolescent. I will hope to teach him things that will stick in his life.

Application:

(Ephesians 2:1-10) Though Christ came to set us free and we will not obtained our redemption through our works, we are asked to pursue holiness

By God’s grace we strive for this to bring glory to our heavenly father. (Romans 8:15-17)

Obedience is through observation not hypocrisy

“Be holy, because God is Holy”

He is our source and example of holiness

Ilustration:

As someone who has foresight in safe life practices, I we teach Ozias to look both ways before crossing the street. This will be taught by doing it myself

Application:

Are we following the observations that are presented in God’s words,

Are we striving to be obedient and set apart for God’s plans for our lives.

In Innocence: Mark 10:13-16

Little children are paradigmatic disciples, for only empty hands can be filled.

These hands can accept anything because they are empty

What areas do you lack, that are being filled by God?

What areas do you fill that should be emptied for God’s filling?

A hearts call to grace and mercy

Children receive with an openness (v. 15)

We are asked to receive with this same openness

Application:

An open cup is to be filled, when we moved into our place of acceptance we realized our need for forgiveness, grace, and a savoir

As we walk as children of God we are

In humility: Matthew 18:2-5

Turning is a means of change in the lives of the disciples (v. 3)

Qualities of trustfulness and dependence

“humbles himself until he becomes like this little child.”

It is a process

This can be revisited in our lives to bring us back to God’s purposes

Illustration:

Learning something new or foreign

You must be willing to let go of the old information and assumptions and trust the teacher

Application:

Being humble like a child means giving back control to God, this is a struggle I believe for us in north America because we have so many controls.

Example: the new vehicles out there, you can control everything.

Examine yourself to identify that God is in fact in control.

Conclusion:

Every day I get the chance to wake up a room away from a beautiful funny little man. I take a great deal of pride and encourage as I get to see my baby boy grow and develop. Now if that is my heart for my son, how much more is love and joy enters the heart of God when we walk and live in the path of a child. Weather you haven’t made the choice to accept Jesus’ or you have been walking in a relationship with him we are called to be children.