Out of the Mouth of Babes

When you’re a kid, it’s easy to believe that the word “gullible” isn’t in the dictionary.  It is, but my point is that kids will believe anything you tell them. Their faith is boundless.

            Recently, a friend of mine was in Target with her little girl, Abbey. Abbey is being raised in church, so she’s filled to the brim with Bible stories, and knows exactly who Jesus is. A Middle Eastern man in a white turban walked past them and Abbey cried out “MOMMY, LOOK!!! IT’S JESUS! - JESUS! JESUS! IT’S ME, ABBEY!!!!” (While pointing at the man who was obviously embarrassed). He kept walking and Abbey shouted, “MOMMY! LET’S FOLLOW JESUS!!” Like the old television show says, "Kids say the darndest things".  

            Needless to say, my friend wanted to melt into the floor and disappear. But let’s take a moment and look at this comparison. How many of us can honestly say that we’d be so vocal and openly willing to follow Jesus if, like little Abbey, we saw him walking among us? Some of us have a hard time living out our faith in private-let alone for others to see.

            There is a reason that children are so near to the Lord’s heart. It’s because their faith seems endless. The smallest piece of evidence can sway a child into believing exactly what you say. I used to believe I was a mermaid whenever I swam in a pool. (What can I say? I was an only child for 7 years, so I had to learn the art of self-entertainment).

            In Mark 10:15 it says “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (NIV).   Obviously, there is something to be said for viewing the Lord thru the eyes of a child. 

            As a child, your imagination and faith have no bounds. Believing in the miracles Jesus performed comes easily; there are no doubts and no questions. Life causes us to become more cynical as we get older, and faith becomes a thing of the past.  It becomes harder and harder to believe that there is a God that loves us so much that he sent his son to die for our sins.

            We need faith like little Abbey to follow a God that is larger than life. We place our faith in God and trust that He will renew our strength when we are weary, return us home when we are lost, and wipe away every tear we cry. And more importantly, when we feel our faith hanging on by a thread, he proves himself to us over and over. So, let’s take a page out of Abbey’s book and “FOLLOW JESUS!!” 

By: Lacey Slifkoff