Big Heads Small Spirits

 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. (Matt. 18: 1-4)

The disciples thought they had Jesus and the kingdom all figured out, that is until Jesus threw them a curve ball. If you want to be big and important in the kingdom, you must take the smallest and weakest position. You see Jesus knew that He would defeat evil by becoming as weak and as vulnerable as a child.

As He lay His life down on the cross and submitted to His Father's will, He became the ultimate obedient child. He relinquished His divine rights and settled his human debts when He gave the responsibility of the care of his mother Mary to the beloved disciple John. Hebrews says that Jesus learned obedience by what he suffered: |Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

We are told that no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but it yields a harvest of righteousness for those who are trained by it (Hebrews 12:11). Suffering, hardship, and pain created a lasting legacy of grace for Jesus.  So, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God "Hebrews 12:2)

When one is a child, one is subject to those who are more powerful. In Jesus' case, He made Himself of no respect and submitted to death on the cross, despising its shame. He willing submitted himself to those who were in essence weaker.

Children know how to submit to the shameful processes, but not how to keep the shame from being in embedded in their self-concepts. When they are abused, they absorb the negative messages that scream of their lack of worth and value.

Jesus benefited from perfect parenting unlike all of us. Therefore, when the Pharisees bullied him, when his brothers mocked him and called him names, He knew who he really was. If I am to walk like Jesus, I must to be parented by God and know who I am in Him, so that no matter the abuse, I am not shamed by the actions of others or defined by them.

The disciples expected Jesus to establish His kingdom through force, to expel the Roman interlopers, to chase out the two-faced hypocrites, but instead Jesus became a child, meek and humble, but by doing so He destroyed the works of the devil. His innocence provided the key of victory over Satan.
Meek, humble, submissive, and obedient not exactly what the disciples believed the kingdom would be made of-  childlike qualities.


Still learning,
MJ
 

The Kingdom of Heaven: Seen and Heard

When Jesus' disciples tried to quiet and shush the children, they felt Jesus' ire rise. He responded that if they wanted to enter the kingdom of heaven that they must first become like a little child: "Then Jesus said, "Leave the children alone, and don't try to keep them from coming to Me, because the kingdom of heaven is made up of people like this" (Matthew 19:14). What is it about children? Their innocence; their joie- de-vivre. It can be contagious.

I don't think that the disciples meant to be obtuse- it was a cultural thing.The disciples were merely concerned for Christ's very busy schedule. He was in fact a very most auspicious visitor to the earth with an important mission to accomplish. Children are to be seen and not heard. They are to smile and be pretty things. They are to be abused and voiceless.  Jesus responded by telling the disciples that unless they could become like these children, they would not enter the kingdom of heaven.

As we played clapping games and other silly adventures with the girls from Roodewaal, I had but to wonder what home looked like. Would they continue to smile and laugh when they entered their front doors?

I too can become so preoccupied like the disciples that I forget what really matters. Thank goodness Jesus does not. He made time for the children, to chat with them, sit on his lap, and he laid hands on them and blessed them: The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them.  The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.  Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them" (Mark 10:13-16).

What foresight that some parents had to bring their children to Jesus. How many parents do that today? I don't mean dropping the child off at Sunday School and disappearing, but  to be present as Jesus changes their hearts, as they grew and become the men and women God desires.

Today, I led intercession about violence against girls and women in South Africa. Afterwards, Yuri gave me a word about the cloak that the king’s daughters wore. I knew the scripture to which he was referencing. It too is sad story of abuse, sexual misconduct, incest (2 Samuel 13). It is Tamar’s story; her garment was taken from her by her brother who was inflamed with lust. But I found in this prophetic word that God was telling me that He would restore beauty for ashes and give crowns of gladness instead of mourning. The girls will not be ravished brothers, fathers, and uncles, but be ravished by the beauty of their Prince Jesus. This same Jesus who had time to sit them upon his lap, lay hands on them and bless them, to call them into their divine destinies for their names are already written in the palm of scar-pierced hands. - Still a child at heart, MJ

Wind, Waves, and Mountains

Standing at the base of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa brings humbling feelings. Truth be told, standing at the base of any formidable mountain range may produce the same effect- one simply feels small, perhaps even in significant in nature’s landscape, but not in God’s.

How does the Creator of the universe manage to keep His eyes on me and the small furry rodent with the lines and dashes across its tiny back? He watches it safely cross the path of pedestrians, steadily climbing the mountain path, and He watches my journey as well- one seemingly achingly slow step after ponderous step.

At the precipice of the mountain cliffs, God promises to hide me in the shelter of His wings. Despite the howling winds, and the fragile rock cleft, like Elijah, I am safe, and can rest there until I hear the next instruction of where to go. Even as I summit the mountain’s crest, He is there too waiting to reveal its grand and majestic panoramas and His ever constant word, “Be Still and know that I am God.”

I realized something yesterday, like a tourist so busy taking pictures, merely to show that she has been there, I too can be simply going through the motions of life without ever really being present, experiencing the here and now. So, I slow down, put the camera away, and just stand in the awesomeness of who God is  as revealed in nature . I allow my mind’s camera to open its shutter and take in the beauty that only the Supreme Artist can create and then take its beauty and lessons into my spirit. I will remember these pictures best even when I misplace the photos or they are destroyed. The wind seems to caress my souls  again with these words, be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted the earth and the heavens.

His care for me is as constant as the tide that comes into the beach, its roaring waves silenced as it reaches the shore. O’ that my soul would find its rest in God alone and be still its beating, and simply lie prostrate before His presence as the sea’s waters lap upon the soft sand of the beach.

The penguins clean and preen comfortable in their dark black and white suits. O' that my soul would take peace in the fact that I am clothed in the righteous of Christ alone and need do no more than preen to show His handy work, and clean off the debris that would destract from His glory and beauty.

Maybe the rocks strewn across this beach, the ugly masses of seaweed, and lumpy rubbery vines which resemble so much like nature’s debris after an upset stomach in the ocean are simply here to remind me not to turn Jonah. You know, come up with my own plan. Despite the rocks' bulk and placement, I can still walk upon the beach. Just as in life, obstacles do not have to stop me.

 

So many beautiful lessons in nature lie.
 
A Contemplative Today- MJ