Tag: heart of a child

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Luke Devotionals

Heart of a little child

child and gift

Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:16-17)

I was thinking this morning on what it meant to receive the Kingdom of God as a little child.

When a little child receives a gift, what’s their response? Indifference? Cynicism or doubt about the goodness of the gift or the giver?

No, they gladly receive the gift with joy!

Contrast that with the rich ruler. He walked away sorrowfully from the Kingdom Jesus was offering.

Why? He couldn’t believe that the Kingdom was so much better than any of his riches.

And though he had called Jesus “good”, he couldn’t trust him enough to follow and obey him.

Even Peter apparently wrestled with this. Instead of rejoicing about how good the Kingdom was, he focused more on what he had given up, seeking assurances from Jesus that it was indeed worth it.

We can’t enter the Kingdom if we’re constantly harboring doubts about how good it is, and more importantly, how good our King is.

To be clear, I’m not talking about the occasional doubts that arise in everyone. I’m talking about our fundamental heart attitude toward our King and his Kingdom.

The heart of a little child is not indifferent to the Kingdom or doubtful of its worth.

Nor is the heart of a little child cynical about its King.

Instead, it joyfully embraces both.

How about you? Do you have the heart of a little child?

How do you see your King and his Kingdom?

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Matthew Devotionals 2

Heart of a child

child

He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but it was not like that from the beginning. (Matthew 19:8)

Father, let me never make decisions merely based on “what is permitted.”

Especially when because of the hardness of my heart, I’m rejecting what you say is best.

Help me to have the heart of a child—a soft heart, a trusting heart—not asking “What is permitted,” but “What does my good, good Father desire?”

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John Devotionals

I believe

Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?” he asked.

Jesus answered, “You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

“I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped him. (John 9:35-38)

Father, give me the heart of that man who had been blind. A heart open to you. A heart that is quick to believe you, to trust you, to worship you, to follow you, no matter what others say.

He was so opposite to the Pharisees who were willfully blind, refusing to see what was so plain, refusing to believe.

I don’t want to be like that.

So Jesus, today, with that man, I come to you in worship, and with the heart of a child say, “Lord, I believe.”

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Matthew Devotionals

Hardened hearts

Matthew

He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but it was not like that from the beginning. (Matthew 19:8)

Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Father, as I head into this new year, I pray for a soft heart, the heart of a child. A heart that trusts you. A heart that believes your way is best. A heart that does not cling to or make excuses for its sins.

I don’t want to settle for second best, for what you “permit.”

I want your very best in my life. I want what you intended for me from the very beginning.

Show me the places where my heart is hardened and take your plow to my fallow ground. Let your blade dig down to the soil of my soul this year. In Jesus’ name, amen.