Childlike Faith

I have this sweet, 6 year old student. She has been taking piano from me for only a few months. We were about to start our lesson; she was getting her books out of her bag, and then she just came right out and said, “Do you believe in Jesus?” My heart just melted! I said, “I sure do.” She smiled great big! She then said sadly, “Do you know, only a couple of people in my class believe in Jesus?”

I have since thought about that short exchange.

Here is this little girl, with simple faith. She certainly believed and she wanted others to as well; that gave her joy. She displayed loving the Lord and loving others very simply. She had no hidden agendas, ulterior motives, or puffed up ego, just simple faith.

I realized, we DO need to grow and learn, but It doesn’t matter if we are 6 or 60, our need for God never changes and that simple faith that we had as a child or even a new believer, need not be traded in. Every day, it would do us good to return to our child like faith and say as one preacher said, “give me Jesus! You can have all the rest, but give me Jesus!”

Jesus had this to say about children,

“And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

There is a difference between childish and childlike. When I think of childish behavior, I think of letting emotions rule and acting out on them impulsively without restraint.

We should not remain childish, but remaining childlike is a whole other matter.

My observation of childlike behavior includes:

• Simplicity

• No cynicism

• No hidden agendas

• No hidden motives

• Vulnerability

• Trusting

• Simple joy

• Being present

My grandmother had this childlike faith. It was remarkable, and so winsome. She was no theologian, nor did she care to be, but she knew her Bible and she loved Jesus and she loved others. Isn’t this what is required of us?

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God

Micah 6:8

My grandmother said at the end of her life, “Be happy with yourself.” Was this one of the keys to her child like faith?

When we are negative, comparing ourselves, being unforgiving, abusing ourselves, being hypocritical, complaining, criticizing and worrying we are killing our joy.

When we make a habit of engaging in joy killers, it’s safe to say we aren’t too happy with ourselves, and if we aren’t happy with ourselves, how are we going to love the way Jesus commanded us to love?

This is a reminder to me, more than anyone, to simply and faithfully come to the feet of Jesus. It all starts with Him! The Lord is my Shepherd. Help me to be content. Help me to love You more, Lord, and love others. I can’t do any of this without the help of the Holy Spirit. We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us along the way, moment by moment in every stage of our lives.

If you haven’t known this simple faith, the invitation is yours. Come! Jesus will take it from there.