REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 18, 2013.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“A Childlike Faith”
Psalm 8:1-2
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
Most of us don’t even remember what it was like to be a child. As grown-ups, we are self-conscious and constantly worrying, but this morning the Lord reminds us to “change and become like little children” (Matt. 18:3-4) so as to embody humility, simplicity (11:25), and innocence (19:13) in our faith.
Start this day by doing what you usually don’t: Sing a praise! “God is so good” or “Lord we lift your name on high . . .” Do you worry about what others think about you? We all do it but ask the Lord to free you from it. Reflect on this: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17).
Prayer: Father in heaven, I think that You’re really cool and awesome. I’m so proud and privileged to be called Your son through my older brother Jesus Christ. LORD, when I take myself too seriously, remind me that I’m a child of God who always has a reason (i.e., Christ) to rejoice. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 20
Lunch Break Study
Read 1 Cor. 13:11: When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 1 Cor. 14:20: Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
Questions to Consider
- We are told to have a childlike faith. Should be like children when it comes to thinking?
- What are some childish manners that we need to give up (1 Cor. 3:1-4, 14:13-20)?
- What is one factor that causes us to remain as an immature child (Heb. 5:11-4)?
- What kind of situation tends to stir up our insecurities?
Notes
- No, the Bible doesn’t condone everything about children. For instance, when it comes to thinking, we are to be adults, children.
- In Corinth, the childish manner referred to an intense argument among the believers overwhom they were following spiritually and theologically. It is akin to Calvinists, Armenians, Pentecostals, and Dispensationalists fighting among themselves. In addition, Paul wanted them to approach the matter of speaking in tongues in the church with more maturity (“In your thinking be adults”). He didn’t want them to just speak in tongues without thinking about how that may affect those who don’t understand or unbelievers who are visiting the church that day (1 Cor. 14:23).
- While there may be other factors, Heb. 5 makes it very clear that spiritual immaturity is a result of a lack of biblical knowledge as well as not putting into practice what is learned (Heb. 5:14). Of course, knowledge without humility puffs us up, which leads to childish actions again (1 Cor. 8:2).
- Our immaturity tends to show up when we don’t quite know what to do with those who make us feel uncomfortable for whatever reasons. John the Baptist shows that knowing and accepting our limitation and seeing ourselves as a conduit for the advancement of others, will result in a surprising joy! (Jn. 3:26-30).
Evening Reflection
The morning began with a reminder about being childlike in faith. In view of that, how was your day? Did you get to laugh today? Honestly appraising yourself, what type of situation tends to bring out the immaturity in you? Take a moment to ask the LORD to help you not give into childish ways. What mindset do we need to cultivate3 (Jn. 3:26-30)?