What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Personally, I think I make it harder than He intended.
This week I’m thinking about simple. I have a nagging feeling that we make a lot of things harder than they need to be. I don’t want to ignore life’s harsh realities, but I’d like to see if there are some places where my attitudes increase the harshness.
I’m convinced that I can be simple without being simplistic. I’m certain that many issues are complex but not necessarily complicated (Complex Simplicity).
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 18:2-3]
“…become like little children.” Jesus tells me to be childlike.
Maybe that’s another useful distinction: childlike versus childish.
What comes to mind when you think of childlike? I thought of things like:
- Trusting
- Open heart
- Creative
- Inquisitive
- Accepts at face value
- Not afraid to try new things
Childish evokes different images:
- Self-centered
- Temper tantrums
- Mine!
- Why?
- Do I have to?
Jesus loves me. Childlike knows exactly what that means.
Children are expected to be both childish and childlike.
Adults have a choice.
What’s your biggest obstacle to being a bit more childlike?
This idea was inspired by some thoughts from Seth Godin. If you like short, thought-provoking commentary, I recommend checking out his blog.
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