Jesus looks to the faith of little children or faith that is like a child on which to build the kingdom of God.

Matthew 18:3-4 – He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Children are often open to hearing the wonder in Jesus’ words and see with an open heart and mind the possibilities and reality of the kingdom of God in this life and the next. They don’t qualify the work of God in their heart, cease to be awestruck by the wonder of God’s love for them, or the joy of life.

There is a lack of defenses built up around them. Walls without trust, an ego built by life’s encounters with hurt, fear, and anger. Maybe, this honest heart and trust are why we become so enraged when someone is cruel enough to purposely hurt a child.

I think we all have a foundation that is the true nature of who we are as individuals. It is where the love of God, the image of God resides. It may also be covered up by the person life creates. Covered by our encounters in life, our wins, losses, compliments, and insults we build on top of ourselves. In time, we have a new foundation, a new understanding of who we are, and we will defend it even against God. Even as we announce that we are followers of Jesus, we continue to defend and filter all words and ideas, even the work of the Holy Spirit, lest we lose ourselves. I believe this is one of the reasons we resist true grace from God or believe that others have not earned the gift and acceptance of God’s love.

We have built layers of protective ideas of who we are on top of the image of God within us, over the God-created person. In archaeology, the word tel is used to describe a mound or hill that appears to be part of the natural landscape. In truth, they are layers of ancient cities built on top of the debris of the past. Humanity has a problem of covering up the purity of what God has created while defending our own creation of hardened hearts and souls. In all fairness, it is the only one we know, or at least remember. Consider what Jesus told Nicodemus in the Gospel of John, concerning entering the kingdom of heaven. “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6.

It’s not easy in a world covered by layers of self-interest, greed, and violence. But maybe that’s the problem, the reason the world struggles. It is past time to let the Spirit do the work of God within us, to blow away the debris of life that covers us. It is time to heed the teachings of Christ, to love God, and to love one another. It is time to live out the Way, the Truth, and the Life given by Christ Jesus.

May the Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Pastor Rick