40 DAYS in the GOSPEL Sample

BRAZENLY DEPENDENT

I (Shawn) am not one for big celebrations about me. I have friends who look forward to their birthdays as a holiday with eager anticipation. As my granddaughter will say, “I am very so excited.” Not me.

But how we receive tells us a lot. As kids, we find it easier to receive anything. But we grow up and are older, and sometimes with that, comes a reluctance to accept gifts, hugs, and love. Why? Do we fear there are strings attached? Do we think, “I wonder what they want from me?”

We may say, “Honestly, I don’t need anything.” Or “You shouldn’t have.” With children? They just open their hands, and their arms and say, “Bring on the gifts. Bring on the celebration!”

In our passage today, Jesus rebukes his disciples for despising the children. Even more, He is “indignant.” Jesus is ticked off! Why? They are missing an important aspect of the good news: God’s nature is to give, and they are misrepresenting God as a reluctant giver. More than that, they are misunderstanding the nature of His kingdom. It can only be received as a child receives.

To put it bluntly, God prefers childlike faith and dependence. The kingdom doors are barred to the independent—to those with closed hands and hearts. Why? People who think they don’t need a king resent any competition. The good news of grace is offensive to those who are self-reliant.

But the humble? The childlike? The one who is “very so excited” to know the good King? He throws open the doors, extends the royal welcome, and says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for yours is the kingdom of heaven.”

Beware of pride and self-sufficiency. Yes, work hard. Root laziness out of your life. But keep your heart open and your hands empty. God can’t fill your hands if they are already full.

PRAY ABOUT IT: Is Jesus the King of your life, your heart? On a scale of 1-10, how much are you depending on God? Pray for a few minutes welcoming His authority in your life. Are your hands open? Pray now, “You are the good King. Your kingdom come in me and in the world.”