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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Today's Frontline Devotion

Sunday, August 31, 2003

CHILDLIKE FAITH

Frontline Devotion for Sunday, August 31, 2003 by Don Kress

Text for the Day: Matthew 19:13-30 “…Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven…”

It was a summer afternoon when the front door of our house swung open to the cries of my five-year-old son, who ran quickly up the stairs and into his bedroom, with me in hot pursuit. He had gotten a sizeable wooden splinter in the palm of his hand while playing at our community playground. I looked at it and said that we were going to have to get that splinter out of his hand. At that point, he pulled his hand away from me, closed his eyes, threw himself back onto his bed, threw his open palm out to his side, and passionately implored, “God, take this splinter out of my hand!”

After allowing enough time to pass for the miracle to take place, I said that I was sure that God wanted the splinter out of his hand, but that God often uses other people through which to perform His work, and that I was reasonably certain that God had entrusted me to remove the splinter. My son, reluctantly accepting my supposition, accompanied me to the operating room (a.k.a. bathroom), where within a few minutes the splinter was successfully removed. Hand bandaged, tears wiped, hugged and kissed, he was soon back at play.

It’s that childlike faith that Jesus talks about in verses 13-15 in today’s text. Actually, when I read this passage, I thought something was missing. Mark, in his Gospel, tells the same story, but adds one more verse (Mark 10:15): “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Children are characterized by their dependence and receptiveness. A child looks on the world with wondering and expectant eyes, and lives in joyful trust. I believe that in today’s passage Jesus is telling us that His followers must live with such dependence and receptiveness – not in childishness, but in childlike faith, fully dependent on the love and mercy of God. We must have the faith to throw out our hand and exclaim, “God, remove this splinter!”

Indeed, as Jesus says in verse 26 of today’s passage, “…with God all things are possible.” Yes, our good and gracious God does take the splinters out of our lives. Once in a while He removes them Himself through a miracle. More often, He removes them through someone whom He has called to represent Him (a pastor, a physician, a parent, a spouse, a friend). Sometimes He gives us the courage to remove them ourselves. Once in a while, He allows the splinter to remain, but gives us the strength to endure it. God takes care of our splinters, not always in our desired time frame or in our desired way, but He does take care of them. Go ahead, throw out your hand!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, enable me to be dependent upon and receptive to your love, mercy, and grace. Help me to come to You as a little child, saying “Abba, Father, take this splinter out of my hand.” Then, allow me to be open to the fact that with You, all things are possible. Amen.

To respond to this devotion, write mailto:pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org

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