The David Spoon Experience 12-13-23 part 2
1) I reserve Wednesdays for revisiting some of the classic sermons that I've had the opportunity to preach, teach, listen to, connect with, share, and minister from. The reason is straightforward. Many of these truths are timeless, and even though we might hear them once a year or even once every two or three years, these truths need to be at the forefront of our thinking. Today's message, entitled "Wise Like a Child," is no exception. We don't typically view a child as wise, but Jesus did.
2) So, when Jesus suggests that we need to be like a child, what characteristics is he highlighting? Is he pointing to the immaturity of a child? No. The reason is clear. Many adults are just as immature as many children. He's referring to two primary characteristics that a child possesses that we need to embody with our Father because we are His children. We need to exhibit humility, recognizing that we are not in charge, even if we're the eldest one in the room.
3) The other significant characteristic is trust. A child goes to bed and wakes up. When the child is hungry, they don't put on hunting clothes. Instead, they ask their parents for food. Why? Because when the child is three or four, they need help getting food. That's the analogy Jesus used to connect us to our Father. We need to trust, just like when we read bedtime stories to our children and grandchildren, and they fall asleep with a sense of security because they trust us. We need to understand that God is a better parent than we could ever imagine, but we are still His children.
4) What's even more astounding about this message is the direct challenge it poses to those of us who think we are wise, learned, and intelligent because of our experiences and education. I was chatting with Pastor Kurt from Stillwater Community Church a few weeks ago. I told him how amazing it is that the closer we get to the Lord and the more we understand Him, the more we realize how much sin and pollution we truly have. There is only one superstar, and it's not us.
5) This will complicate things further. Unless we trust in the Lord and humble ourselves, all of our profound understanding of who God is, what He does for us, His kindness, mercy, grace, and every other element of compassion towards us can't be grasped. We can only understand these if God grants us the understanding. If He doesn't reveal it to us, we'll never comprehend it.
