Good Morning!
- As we mature in our walk with Christ do we run the risk of loosing our childlike faith?
- As we gain experience from life, are we in danger of allowing rationalistic thinking to crowd our simple faith?
CONSIDER: Two people are confronted by an angel from God with a miracle:
– One is an old saint who has walked with God for decades.
– The other is an innocent teen-age girl.
Surprisingly: The old man doubts God’s word.
- The teen-age girl responds in trusting confidence.
The old man is Zacharias who is told of his aged wife’s forthcoming pregnancy in carrying John the Baptist. His response:
“How shall I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” (Lk. 1:18 – 20)
The teen-age girl is Mary, the mother of Jesus who is told she would bear the Messiah. Her response:
“…Be it done to me according to your word.” (Lk. 1:38)
Why would a teen-age youth respond in faith to a miracle while a seasoned old saint struggles to believe? Perhaps with life’s maturing experiences comes the tendency to intellectualize ourselves out of childlike faith in God. We simply “know” too much to believe and trust.
Paul expressed concern in writing, “I am afraid that your minds may be seduced from a single-hearted devotion to Him by the same subtle means that the serpent used towards Eve.” (II Cor. 11:3)
And Jesus stated, “…Unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3)
So the challenge before us is that as we gain wisdom and experience with age, we manage to retain the childlike faith of young Mary. After all, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Heb. 11:6)
And that is our goal, is it not? To please God.
My prayer is that you are having a great week!