Leviticus 3 & 4, Mark 10: 1-31, Psalm 31: 19-24
Mark 10: 15 (ESV)
” Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom
of God like a child shall not enter it.”
When I first heard and read verse 15 from Mark 10, I used to
think it meant that we needed child-like faith in God. Having faith in God the
way a child trusts his father. I believe I have a child-like trust in God. But
after reading several commentaries, many biblical scholars believe this verse
also emphasizes that children don’t feel that they have to earn everything they
get. Children will never refuse gifts out of self-sufficient pride. A child
will receive a gift because at their age, that’s all they can do. I like this
new way of looking at this verse because as an adult, I do often find it hard
to receive gifts. The first thoughts that inevitably run through my head upon
receiving a gift are 1) what does this person want? 2) I’m going to have to
give them something now just to even out the scales, 3) I don’t deserve a gift
ever, and 4) what did I do to earn this gift?” I’m going to have to add the
child-like attitude of being able to just receive to my definition of faith.
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