Adult Children

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Mark 10:15 NIV).

Children are well aware of their dependency and are comfortable with it—as long as the adults in their lives are reasonable and caring. We adults are not so different. Life is less perplexing and overwhelming when we have a wiser, more capable Person to depend on.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).

Children love to be mommy’s or daddy’s little helpers. Adults, too, are highly motivated to work well when they are working for someone they esteem and emulate. And we all are working for such a Person, regardless of who our earthly supervisors or clients are.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Col. 3:23 NIV).

I believe I will take a good look at children this week. The closer I get to being an adult child, the better I will relate to my King.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Mark 10:15 NIV).

A Bigger Picture

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." . . .


Jesus went thoughout Galileee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people (Matt. 4:17, 23).


The Good News, as I remember hearing it--from my earliest years to now--has always been a message of personal reconciliation with God. What a different flavor Jesus' good news carried! It was an invitation to join a new order of things. A heavenly order. His kingdom.

. . . your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10).

Yes, those who believe on Jesus enter into a saving, sustaining, satisfying personal relationship with him--a very personal one, because he is a Shepherd-King. But the relationship is not primarily about "me and Jesus." A follower of Jesus is one of many citizens of his kingdom, one sheep in a large flock.

Does this viewpoint make a difference? Does it illuminate some scriptures that have been puzzling up to now? Are you unhappy about giving up the strictly personal understanding of the gospel? Or does the kingdom view make the "good news" even better news? In what way?