Like a Child - Part 3

Luke 18:15-17—People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

This week we have focused on 3 key attributes of infants that Jesus referenced in this Scripture: 1. Whole and total dependence on the caretaker; 2. Wondrous curiosity at discovering the surrounding world; and 3. Creation of joy in others. Today, we will spend time on the third feature.  We all know that babies have a way of bringing joy.  It’s almost impossible to hold an infant or watch a child at play without smiling.  It’s hard to hold back hugs and kisses from babies.  Just their presence sparks happy emotions and a flood of love—but why is that?  Is it because they are serene and peaceful?  Or perhaps because they have no stress or worries to pass off onto other people? Perhaps it is because they wholly exist in a given moment—they are never in the past or future because their brains just don’t work that way yet.  As adults, it is hard for us not to think about the past and future.  When we find a rare moment when we can just “be,” we tend to get distracted quickly by thinking about other things.  The preoccupation with thought has a tendency to take away that shining light that babies have, that peaceful glow that comes with wholly being in a moment.  Instead, we tend to share our stress and worries with others, either through our words or through our seemingly unrelated interactions.  It takes effort to choose peace over worry and chaos, but when we live peacefully we have the capacity to share that glow, that peaceful light, with others around us.  It can actually spark joy in others and set off a chain reaction of peace and love all around us when we seek internal peace.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as the Prince of Peace.  Thoughtfully consider whether you bring joy to others and ask God to make you a messenger of joy in His Kingdom.  Pray that He would flood you with peace and joy that spills over onto all those around you.  Ask Him to work on your spirit so that it becomes like a child bringing joy to others in the name of Jesus Christ.