Life 101 (Matthew 18:3)

Reading and meditating upon the Bible always enlightens and humbles me. For nearly every situation I face in life, I find an answer and example in the Bible. What always amazes me is that familiar Bible verses and stories, that I have read many times over, leap out and grab me with new meaning when the Holy Spirit uses them to instruct me. One example occurred this morning. The following verse is on my wall in my office. I read it nearly every morning as I pass it by, but today was different.

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3 (ESV)

As I read the verse, I pondered what it truly meant to become like a child? I thought back to my own childhood. I remembered the trust and innocence I had for my parents. I remembered the love and respect and the desire to do things to please them because I loved them, not from obligation. Yes, these were all good reasons why Jesus commanded us to become like children when we enter into a relationship with God.

And then it struck me. I can recite the correct answers but I am still learning these lessons. I am still so far from giving my uninhibited trust and love to God. My desire is not always to please Him but often just to please myself and meet my needs first. I am an adult yet I still struggle to become the child Jesus wants me to be.

These are the elementary principles of living a life with God and I still have not mastered them.  I know I will always be learning in the classroom of God, but I have not even progressed beyond Life 101!

Life 101.

As long as I remain on this earth, I will not graduate from this class. But I will not be discouraged! Thanks be to God for allowing me to even enter His classroom! I presently see things dimly but someday, when I am in Heaven with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I will behold the complete glory and truth of the lessons He is teaching me.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.