God Wants Us to Become Like Little Children -Advent 12 (2019)

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. 3 And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.” Matthew 18:1-5

At first blush, Jesus’ comment is curious. But did you know that babies up to the age of 3 don’t even know how to blush? They haven’t developed the social awareness of what it feels like being judged, being embarrassed, or being ashamed. When Jesus tells us to become like children, He’s talking about a faith so trusting, a love so innocent, and a life so free from shame that we display what freedom in Christ looks like. In heaven, we will have that faith, that love, and that innocence and be absent of any shame because Jesus died and took our shame –paid for by His blood–to the grave and buried it.

Think about it:

Do you live like a person freed from shame or does shame haunt you like an unwelcome shadow?
How do we gain access to that kind of freedom from shame? (John 8:36)
Read Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” How does this display what Christ has done through His sacrifice? Do you need to be ashamed anymore?
What will it take you to have that innocence of unabashed faith and love?

What God wants for Christmas is…Us to Become Like Little Children.

Dear Lord, I admit that shame seems to follow me around. Embarrassing memories, failures I wish I’d avoided, mistakes I’ve made, words I wish I’d never said, and actions I regret doing. Your Word tells me to live in Your forgiveness, that those whom You have set free are free indeed. I want to live with that innocence and freedom. Help me, Lord Jesus, not to relitigate within my heart what You have forgiven. Holy Spirit, please teach me to recognize Your unconditional love since I know I’m not worthy to earn it. Lord, help me to accept Your love and forgiveness and to live as a person who never needs to feel ashamed again. Father, grant me victory over my accuser. I thank You, Lord Jesus, that in You I am forgiven. I praise You, God. Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.