"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
- Mark 10:15
So I didn't quite understand what it means to have childlike faith. I understood that it was about simply trusting God, but knew nothing more or less. As I have been interacting with many children, God has been making this phrase and that verse clearer for me. It is quite amazing to see when these children LISTEN to you just because you are their "teacher." Honestly, I can be saying heretical things at church (pray that I would NEVER..!! Matthew 18:6), and they would still believe it because I said so. Wow, it is a very humbling experience because.. really, who am I that they trust me with all the things that I teach them? And even crazier is the fact that they will believe my words and OBEY. If we are going to memorize a verse, that is what they will do; if I tell them they are not allowed to eat the snacks right now, they won't eat it; if I told them we are playing this (stupid) game I made up, they will play...
Of course there are those that don't listen to you right away. Their first reaction to a command is "NO", but what is soooo cool about serving as a teacher in children's ministry is that, they will LISTEN eventually. HAHA. Seriously, even the most rebellious child will listen to you sooner or later (Definitely within the span of the Bible study class if not within like 3 minutes!!).
I have several "troublemakers" in my Bible study class, and I have been having to have one of them stay after class to have a "talk" with me. I ask them why they did do what they did and ask them what they think they should do, according to the Bible. It is truly amazing to see that what the Bible says they should do, they KNOW they should do it without questioning. For example, one kid was saying mean things about another kid, so I had a talk with him after class. He told me how that other kid had gotten him in trouble at school. And we came to agree that he should forgive... because the BIBLE says so! And no other reason was needed but just that-that God wants you to forgive. How many times do I not do things even though I KNOW God wants me to do certain things? How many times do I question God WHY He would want me to do certain things? Too many to count. Many times, I just need to learn from these children: learn to trust, taking God's Word as it is, and obey.
And the love they show me... is truly undeserved. Some of the girls always wait for me at the playground to go back to the church together when I had to stay after class to have a talk with a student. And they run to me and tell me that they were waiting for me. Then as we walk back together they tell me all these things about their school, their sleepover, etc. Ahh, I don't deserve it. Sometimes these things get to me to make me prideful to think that I am doing a "good job" as a teacher, but God definitely is gracious because I was very... embarassed today due to my lack of preparation, a humbling experience indeed. So, all in all to say that God is GOOD so I just need to trust and obey.. and LOVE HIM! =)
- Mark 10:15
So I didn't quite understand what it means to have childlike faith. I understood that it was about simply trusting God, but knew nothing more or less. As I have been interacting with many children, God has been making this phrase and that verse clearer for me. It is quite amazing to see when these children LISTEN to you just because you are their "teacher." Honestly, I can be saying heretical things at church (pray that I would NEVER..!! Matthew 18:6), and they would still believe it because I said so. Wow, it is a very humbling experience because.. really, who am I that they trust me with all the things that I teach them? And even crazier is the fact that they will believe my words and OBEY. If we are going to memorize a verse, that is what they will do; if I tell them they are not allowed to eat the snacks right now, they won't eat it; if I told them we are playing this (stupid) game I made up, they will play...
Of course there are those that don't listen to you right away. Their first reaction to a command is "NO", but what is soooo cool about serving as a teacher in children's ministry is that, they will LISTEN eventually. HAHA. Seriously, even the most rebellious child will listen to you sooner or later (Definitely within the span of the Bible study class if not within like 3 minutes!!).
I have several "troublemakers" in my Bible study class, and I have been having to have one of them stay after class to have a "talk" with me. I ask them why they did do what they did and ask them what they think they should do, according to the Bible. It is truly amazing to see that what the Bible says they should do, they KNOW they should do it without questioning. For example, one kid was saying mean things about another kid, so I had a talk with him after class. He told me how that other kid had gotten him in trouble at school. And we came to agree that he should forgive... because the BIBLE says so! And no other reason was needed but just that-that God wants you to forgive. How many times do I not do things even though I KNOW God wants me to do certain things? How many times do I question God WHY He would want me to do certain things? Too many to count. Many times, I just need to learn from these children: learn to trust, taking God's Word as it is, and obey.
And the love they show me... is truly undeserved. Some of the girls always wait for me at the playground to go back to the church together when I had to stay after class to have a talk with a student. And they run to me and tell me that they were waiting for me. Then as we walk back together they tell me all these things about their school, their sleepover, etc. Ahh, I don't deserve it. Sometimes these things get to me to make me prideful to think that I am doing a "good job" as a teacher, but God definitely is gracious because I was very... embarassed today due to my lack of preparation, a humbling experience indeed. So, all in all to say that God is GOOD so I just need to trust and obey.. and LOVE HIM! =)
Kyle from VBS wrote this.. you can see him in the corner! <3
that's cute
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