Childfaith

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  – Matthew 18.3-6

That mustard seed is not the only picture of faith.

Jesus loved children. Many times He uses children to illustrate simplicity and innocence and pure and simple faith. He warned against offending little children. The day they came to Him and tried to see Him the disciples tried to shoo them away, but he wouldn’t hear of it. ‘Let them come’ He said, ‘because they will make up the kingdom of God.’

About children here Jesus says:

You must humble yourself like a child

You must become as innocent as a child

Those who humble themselves like children will be the greatest in God’s kingdom

Those who accept children prove they will accept Jesus

You’d better not offend a child

I reckon we could take a day on each of these, easily. I am tempted to do so but I think we will just focus on the core of this – the faith of a child.

Childfaith is precious faith. It is sweet and innocent and humble and trusting and wonderful. Our kids just trust us. They don’t worry about the bills getting paid. I am not blind, I realise that sometimes their faith is misplaced, but still they trust. Our children and our grandchildren trust us – they have faith that we will take care of them.

It is that kind of faith that will get us to heaven. Nothing complicated, no big theological words, nothing too hard to understand, but simple childfaith will save us and deliver us throughout this life.