Abba part 5
I think one of the biggest differences between being childlike and being childish is that being childish is like throwing a fit to get what you want, whereas being childlike is trusting Daddy to take care of you. When Jesus spoke about receiving the Kingdom like a child as the only way to enter in, I think He was trying to help us understand that we can't do it by ourselves. It's our Father's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom. Which means the Kingdom is a gift. And you can't earn a gift. But that's what we try to do. We don't think we deserve it, so we try to earn it. And worse yet, we try to do it all on our own. We try to TAKE the Kingdom with the violence of human effort. We leave God out of it, so to speak. Which is ironic since the Kingdom we're talking about is the Kingdom of GOD. The Kingdom of love. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you're never too old to cry out for Daddy's help. Needing help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of wisdom. And that's why God gave us the Spirit of Sonship. That's why Jesus came to show us the FATHER. God WANTS us to experience everlasting life--which is knowing the Father, and the One whom He sent. Everlasting life is that unconditional love relationship between Father and Son. Knowing God--as Father--and knowing ourselves--as His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. Knowing that God isn't mad AT us, but that He's mad ABOUT us. Absolutely head over heels in love with us. We are the apple of His eye. We are His favorite, if I can say it that way. And that Spirit of Sonship that lets us cry out, "Abba, Father," is the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Not the spirit of fear that causes us to run FROM Daddy, but the Spirit of truth that leads and guides us into all truth. The Holy Spirit--our love receptor--equips and empowers us to boldy approach the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in times of trouble. Instead of running FROM God we can run TO God. Because we know who He is. Which means we know who WE are. We see His arms open wide on the cross, and we can rest in His loving embrace. We see the finished work, and we can stop trying to finish it ourselves. Daddy did it for us, and He did it as us. He took care of it because we couldn't do it. And we can be childish, and throw a fit because we think we don't have what we need... or we can let God love us, and fill us to overflowing with that love, and love each other with that love. A child doesn't question why his dad takes care of him. He knows he's loved and just accepts it. He receives it... and releases it. And that's the New Commandment for the New Man: Love one another as Jesus loves you. Don't try to get something you don't have. Just share what you do have. Let the love that's in you come out... by knowing and believing that it's in there. Daddy always has and always will take care of you. He's not out to get you. He already got you. He loves you. And because of that, we can love each other!