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March 15 – Mark 10:1-16

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ~ Jesus in Mark 10:15 (NIV)


Children receive gifts eagerly and joyfully, and they respond with open hearts. They aren’t self-conscious receivers. They don’t say, “You shouldn’t have” or “This is too much.” They aren’t embarrassed if you give them a gift and they don’t have anything to give you in return because they always give love. When you give a gift to a child, you often get a warm hug, a sloppy kiss, or a fistful of dandelions picked from the yard in return. They have not yet lost the spontaneity of a soft heart.


Jesus says this is how we are to receive the Kingdom of God—with the soft, open heart of a child. We certainly can’t repay God for His gifts, but that’s not why He gives them. As a devoted, loving Parent, He gives us gifts because we are His children and He loves us. He gives us His love, forgiveness, redemption, and His very Kingdom. Jesus assures us of this. In Luke 12:32, He says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” When we receive it like a child, we enter it with joy, and our soft, childlike hearts spontaneously respond with love because God first loved us (see 1 John 4:19).


As we grow into adulthood, our hearts tend to harden—they no longer respond with the same spontaneous love and joy. We need heart surgery that only God can give, and we see an example of this need in the verses just before the children are brought to Jesus when the Pharisees question Him about divorce. They point out that Mosaic law allows for it. If the husband wrote out a certificate of divorce, it was then legal for him to send his wife away (v. 4). Jesus responds, “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law” (v. 5). In other words, if a married couple always had soft hearts toward one another, divorce would never be necessary. Each would always be seeking the good of the other, so where would the problems arise? They would truly be “one flesh” (v. 8).


The truth is, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all have hard hearts at times, and our hardness of heart causes conflict and pain. It keeps us from entering the Kingdom of God until we have a remedy—until God does heart surgery on us. He promised He would do this heart surgery long ago. In Ezekiel 36:26, He said, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” This promise was fulfilled by Jesus’ death and Resurrection. All who put their faith in Christ as their Savior and follow Him as their Lord will have this heart transplant. The Holy Spirit will work in us to make us new creations—conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). But we are works in progress. Divorce still happens. Conflict continues. Yet we have hope. We are being remade, and someday the work will be complete (Philippians 1:6). We will have soft hearts again—like children—hearts that respond spontaneously with love, hearts that joyously enter His Kingdom.


As you spend time with the Lord today, thank Him for His good gifts to you. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work in you by receiving the gifts He has for you with an open heart. Ask Him to help you live into His Kingdom now by having the soft, open heart of a child toward God and others.

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donbrewer1
2021年3月15日

My body is Old and worn, over weight, tired at times, lazy, and non-responsive to my will to be active. Yet my heart feels like a child ready to experience fun, joy, play time, and loving life. This readings confirms me as a child of God and a loving Christ child who has a serious shepherd watching and guiding my day, through God's will in my journey. Thank you Melissa for your insight into love and childhood continuing on!

いいね!

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My name is Melissa Anderson. I'm a spiritual director and ordained pastor who loves God, people, and words. You can read more about me by clicking the button below.

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