Devotion: The Key to the Kingdom
Scripture: Mark
10:14-15 (NIV)
"When Jesus saw this, he was
indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you,
anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never
enter it.'"
Reflection:
The scene is both tender and
tense. Parents are bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing, a simple
act of faith and hope. The disciples, perhaps viewing the children as
unimportant, a distraction from "more serious" ministry, rebuke them.
Jesus' reaction is striking: He is indignant. This is a strong
word, revealing the depth of His feeling. What the disciples see as a nuisance,
Jesus sees as the very essence of the Kingdom.
He then delivers a statement that
turns all conventional wisdom about power and prestige on its head: "The
kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
What is it about a child that
makes them the model citizen of God's Kingdom? It's not their innocence,
purity, or even their simplicity, though we often go to those traits. In the
context of the Greco-Roman world, a child was the ultimate symbol of having no
status, no rights, and no power. They were wholly dependent.
To receive the Kingdom like a
child means to approach God with a posture of:
- Total Dependence: A child doesn't earn
their food; they receive it. They don't build their own house; they trust
they will be cared for. We cannot achieve the Kingdom through our resume,
our intellect, or our moral performance. We must receive it as a gift,
trusting completely in the Giver.
- Uncalculating Trust: A child doesn't
love their parent based on a cost-benefit analysis. They simply trust.
Jesus calls us to a faith that isn't a negotiated treaty with God
("I'll do this if You do that"), but a whole-hearted, trusting
reliance on His goodness and character.
- Absence of Pride: A child isn't
concerned with their social standing. They haven't yet learned the art of
posturing and self-importance. To come as a child is to shed the layers of
spiritual pride, the need to be "right," the desire to be seen
as "mature" or "knowledgeable." It is to come with
empty hands.
This is the ultimate "Inner
Bonding" with God. The bond is not formed through our striving,
but through our surrender. It is a connection established in the
heart—the xin (心)—that
says, "I cannot do this on my own. I trust You completely. I receive what
You want to give me."
The disciples, in their desire to
manage access to Jesus, were "hindering" this very bond. We hinder it
in our own lives when we rely on our own spiritual accomplishments, when we
complicate faith with our doubts and conditions, or when we believe we've
outgrown the need for simple, daily dependence.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come to You
today not as experts in faith, but as children. Forgive us for the times we
have hindered our own relationship with You through pride, self-reliance, and a
desire for control. Strip away our pretensions and our need for status. Teach
us to receive Your love, Your grace, and Your Kingdom with the open, trusting
heart of a child. Help us to bond with You not through our strength, but
through our joyful dependence. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Going Deeper:
- Where in your life are you trying to earn God's
favor instead of receiving it as a gift?
- What does "trusting God like a child"
look like in a specific situation you are facing this week?
- Read Psalm 131 as a companion to this passage,
reflecting on the "weaned child" who is calm and content in
their mother's arms.
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