Crying Like a Baby
There I was eating my Chicken Wrap at Chick-Fil-A. Crispy lettuce, tender chicken and Caesar dressing. A sense of peace settled over me as I took my first bite. Then, as the title mentions, relentless crying from an infant began. I thought nothing of it at first, but after about 3 minutes, I realized that this little human being had no intention of stopping soon. Surprisingly, I never got annoyed, and yet I moreso asked the question to myself: I wonder if somebody is going to attend to the need of this infant? Quickly, I was reminded of something simple, sweet and humbling.
I am that infant. Whether or not I acknowledge that truth is different.
A couple of weeks ago, I was at The Village Church listening to Matt Chandler’s sermon on Luke 18. What I am referring to here is verses 15-17:
15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
This infant crying at the top of her little lungs was just simply communicating, “HELP PLEASE! PLEASE HELP ME!” There are handfuls of humility in that plea. This is how we enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
This here is the gospel: That Jesus would take on the sins of the elect, die, rise, and reign. Our response to such mercy is, “HELP PLEASE! PLEASE HELP ME!” It is not, “Oh, that sure is convenient. Hell sounds horrible; man, that just is not for me. Heaven has happiness. I want that.” To think this way is a grave mistake.
How then should we be after God saves one of His children from eternal seperation? Just like this infant at Chick-Fil-A. If such a faith and humility is required to enter into the kingdom, what makes us think that a different faith and humility is not required on our journey with Him? Should we not today say to Him, “My God you are all I have! Please protect me and provide for me! I own nothing, all is yours. I am nothing but a child of yours. Have mercy on me for straying so easily from your grace!”
Micah 6:8
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
~doctrinated
Well stated. Good reminder that I am nothing without Him and that I need Him for everything.
I’m desperate for Him. I’m lost without Him.
He’s always right there to pick me up…
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
May I thirst and hunger for Him like a child but with a hunger for solid food.
Hebrews 5:11-14
11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
He has a plan for our lives. Proverbs 19:21 & 16:9
Romans 8:29-31
29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
James 1:2-5
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
2 Corinthians 8:10-12
10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
May we persevere in the work set before us as God is sanctifying us here on this earth.
Philippians 1:3-6
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
May we be faithful, diligent and disciplined ambassadors and stewards for Christ.