Become Like Little Children

Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV) “People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; 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.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.”

Jesus’ words are a humbling reminder that all God’s gifts work through us by grace. They are not by our own power or godliness. (Acts 3:12) I think one of the greatest hindrances to exercising spiritual gifts is trying to attain a certain level of spirituality to get God’s power in our lives. Then the Holy Spirit humbles us and teaches us to become like little children and freely receive his grace.

Galatians 3:5 (NRSV) Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Randy Clark shared that when the move of God began at his church, the first person God used in power was one of the last people that anyone would expect. People expected the godly deacon who read his bible and lived an exemplary life to be the first to receive God’s empowerment. By first displaying his glory through a person considered the least deserving, God humbled the church and taught them about his grace.

The following story is a short excerpt from my book, “The Power-and-Love Sandwich.” It is a great illustration of Jesus’ teaching that we must become like little children.

The Little Peruvian Boy

“I was invited to preach at a small Peruvian Pentecostal church in New York City. New York City is an amazing place! There are whole neighborhoods where most people are of a specific ethnicity. I was in a Peruvian neighborhood.

As I was finishing my message, I saw a pastor weeping profusely in the front row. He stood up and told us what happened.

As I preached, he was suffering from a horrible migraine headache. In the middle of the message, a little boy about five years old walked up to the pastor and laid hands on his head. He felt heat pour into his head and the pain melted away. The pastor was healed and deeply touched by God’s love.

This humbled all of us and left us in awe of God. There was no natural way for the little child to have known that the pastor was suffering from a migraine. Why did he put his hands on the pastor’s head? The Holy Spirit gave a word of knowledge through one of the smallest children there to heal the pastor. Nobody had encouraged the child to do anything.”

Do you want to experience God’s power flowing through you? Become as simple as that little boy, freely receive God’s grace, then give it away!