Living Like The Kid!

When I was young I wanted to grow up so quickly. Now that I am older, I don’t want to rush the aging process so much. Even though I love the wisdom you gain as the gray hairs increase in your head, I do not enjoy the physical challenges of getting older.

As we mature in age, we should no longer participate in the immature and foolish behavior we tend to engage in when we are young. 1 Corinthians 13:11 says: “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”

Even though this passage of Scripture correctly exhorts us to embrace the maturation process of life as we serve the Lord, there are other passages of Scripture that teach us to remain childlike in our faith.

God wants us to possess both the wisdom of an adult and the zeal of a child as we follow Jesus! Proverbs 20:29 says: “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.”

While reading the Bible the other day I came across the passage of Scripture in Mark 10:13-16. It reads:

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 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. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

I have read this passage of Scripture many times before and have often thought about what it means to: “receive the kingdom of God like a little child”. If there is one thing about children, it is their complete dependence on someone else. They simply cannot take care of themselves. Their entire existence is based on someone outside themselves.

Jesus pointed to the children as a reflection of his kingdom. He meant that it was only our total dependence on God and our trust in him for salvation that secured us a place in heaven. Just as children wanted to lean on Jesus, so do we need to lean on him for everything.

Is there anything else we can learn from this passage of Scripture?

As a father of three boys who are 11, 9 and 5 years of age, I have had many years of experience observing children and their behavior. There is one thing that has stood out to me watching children whether on the playground or fields of competition. It’s the fact that they have such a zeal, fervor and enthusiasm for life. It never ceases to amaze me how much energy children possess. When my three boys hit the ground in the morning, they don’t stop until bedtime or until we have to knock them in the head…LOL!

Could Jesus have also been implying that those who enter the kingdom of God must possess a zeal, fervor and enthusiasm for our Lord? I think so! Apostle Paul believed that zeal and fervor were important traits for followers of Christ. In Romans 12:11 he wrote: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

The effervescent Gary Carter, who recently passed away, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 after retiring in 1992. Carter played nearly two decades with the Mets, Montreal, San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 11-time All Star finished his 19-year career with a .262 average, 324 home runs and 1,225 RBIs. Everyone who played with Carter could not help but notice his zeal, fervor and enthusiasm for the game of baseball.

Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Driven by a remarkable enthusiasm for the game, Gary Carter became one of the elite catchers of all-time," Carter’s contagious passion for baseball earned him the nickname “The Kid” from his teammates. Of all the ways they could describe his enthusiasm they chose “The Kid”. Gary Carter played baseball like a little child and became a Hall of Famer!

Gary Carter's life and death reminds us that life is too short to not live it everyday like a kid!

As I grow older in life, I am committed to gaining wisdom and never losing a zeal for the Lord. I want to possess the perspective of an adult and the passion of a child as I enter the kingdom of God! I want to be “The Kid” for Jesus!

What about you?

Spark

Could a spark of your love light the whole church on fire?

When we care for our neighbor more than we care for style.

When we breathe in hope, and breath in grace, breathe in God

Yeah, we’ll breathe out peace, and breathe out justice, breathe out love

Oh, this little light’s gonna shine

With just a spark light a fire

Just a spark (Spark, The City Harmonic)

What is the function of a spark plug? A spark plug has the tough but important job keeping the power producing combustion inside your engine alive and well, for without spark there is no flame.

The resulting explosion pushes the piston back down the cylinder and creates the power your car needs to go. If a spark plug fails entirely you will lose fire in that cylinder altogether and suffer a "dead hole."

A car with no spark plug will not go anywhere. Similarly, a Christian without the spark of the Holy Spirit in their heart will not be an effective witness for Christ. They will be a “dead Christian” and ignore the Great Commission!

The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5

According to James 3:5 a small part of the body can make a great boast. Also, a great forest can be set on fire by a small spark. Even though the small tongue and spark have a negative connotation associated with them in this passage of Scripture, there is something positive we can glean from it. This Scripture reminds us that something small, like a tongue or spark, can accomplish astounding feats.

Have you ever wanted to make a difference in the world, but felt too insignificant to try? James 3:5 is a pertinent reminder that you don’t have to be someone famous, wealthy, or influential to make an impact in the world. In fact, you can be someone “small” in the eyes of the world and make a huge difference. Just like a small tongue or spark, one person can start a revival or awakening.

How can a person start a revival or awakening?

One person can spark a revival by getting on fire for God. Apostle Paul was such a man.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 gives incredible insight into the passion Paul possessed, and his willingness to suffer, in order to make his Lord known. It reads:

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Apostle Paul’s passion for God led others to Jesus and inspired them to follow Christ with wholehearted devotion. One of those young men was Timothy, who became a “spiritual son” to Paul. While in prison, Paul exhorted his young disciple to let the fire of God burn in his heart, and remain faithful to his calling. Read his exhortation in 2 Timothy 1:6-7:

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

You cannot kindle a fire in any other heart until it is burning within your own. Apostle Paul was a spark to others because he possessed the flame of God in his own heart.

How do you light a fire for God in your own heart?

“When you set yourself on fire, people love to come and see you burn.” John Wesley

1. Be filled with God’s Spirit and let it burn bright inside of you!

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

John the Baptist baptized people in water after they repented of their sins. His baptism prepared people to receive the ministry of Jesus in their lives. John knew he was not the Messiah, and that one greater than him was soon to come. In Matthew 3:11-12 John the Baptist describes the ministry of Jesus. It says:

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

When we are filled with God’s Spirit and fire, we receive many benefits that accompany this filling. First, his Holy Spirit marks us as God’s children. Second, the Holy Spirit sanctifies (to make holy, set apart, consecrate) us. Third, we possess supernatural power to be a witness for Christ. Acts 1:8 says:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Dunamis is a greek word used 120 times in the New Testament. It means “ability to perform”; for the believer, power to achieve by applying the Lord’s inherent abilities. In short, it is the ability to do the Lord’s marvelous works with power and might.

2. Read the Bible and walk and talk with Jesus.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:30-32 On the road to Emmaus, Jesus appears to and talks with two discouraged people after his resurrection as they walked. The tow people were discouraged because they had misunderstood the plan of the Lord. Jesus walked with them and explained the Scriptures to them. As they walked and talked about the Scriptures with Jesus a fire was burning inside them. 3. Live holy, pray and never compromise!

“Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.” John Wesley

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and commanded the people to fall down and worship it as soon as they heard the sound of the musical instruments. Whoever did not fall down and worship was immediately thrown into a blazing furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to fall down and worship the image. When questioned by the king, they replied with the following answer:

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

Nebuchadnezzar was furious with the three men and had them thrown into the furnace that was made seven times hotter than normal. When the king looked into the furnace he saw not three men, but four who were walking around unharmed. The fourth looked like the son of the gods according to the king. Then Nebuchadnezzar praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who had sent his angel and rescued his servants. Then the king said the following:

“They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Daniel 3:28b-29

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not burned up in the furnace because the fire of God burned in their hearts. This fire compelled them to live a holy life without compromise.

Are you ready to be a spark?