MATURING FAITH

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

When an infant raises their arms towards a parent, they expect to be picked up and when they cry, they expect soothing.  When a child receives a promise from an adult, their expectation is set and firm, looking forward to receiving. That is the base character of ‘childlike faith’.

This is a kind of faith that believes in all possibilities, lays all things bare and faith that is dangerously courageous. Childlike faith is unbending, strong willed and forward advancing. It simply does not know disappointment, and so operates almost on assurances and firm guarantees.

However, as we read childlike faith is needed to ‘receive the kingdom of God’. By implication, that same faith is solely insufficient to thrive in the same kingdom because it has limitations. A child often has the boldness to approach anyone and anything who has what they want. They therefore operate by ‘eyes locked on the prize, move forward: danger, limitations and obstacles may be ignored in that pursuit’.

Such rugged advancing without boundaries can result in unexpected casualties because there is also a patience, knowledge and wisdom dimension to faith. In other words, childlike faith must mature into great faith.

We will remain children of our God at all times, but we cannot remain children in faith forever.

#sly