Jesus exhorts us to become like little children because heaven belongs to them. He said in Matthew 18:3, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” What exactly is the Kingdom of Heaven all about then that God gives it to children? Romans 14:17 gives us the answer. It says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Thoughts of peace and joy always dominate the Christmas season. That’s what the angels declared when they announced the coming of Jesus. Peace and Joy are two characteristics that are probably most appropriate for children. Grown-ups worry too much about what we’re going to eat and drink and how to put a roof over our heads, and how to make a living. Jesus frequently addressed the stress of adulthood. He wanted us more like children who rest confidently and comfortably under His care. “Don’t worry about tomorrow,” He says, “tomorrow will take care of itself.” But like the Israelites whose sins brought devastation to their lives, we lament with the writer of Lamentations, “The joy of our hearts has ended…” (Lamentations 5:17).
Many things rob us of our childlike faith, joy, and peace in life. One of those things is an unbalanced schedule. The wisest man in the world exhorts us to get a grip on our perspective on various activities under the sun. When I was preparing my sermon series on Ecclesiastes about 10 years ago, I was moved by Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 where Solomon exhorts us to remember that there is time for every purpose under heaven: plant & harvest, kill and heal, cry and laugh, grieve and dance, embrace and refrain, keep and throw away, tear and mend, love and hate, be quiet and to speak and war and peace. In the modern adult mindset, we must balance our lives with respect to our activities. God balances the world, and we should live balanced lives. That’s why Peter tells us (1 Peter 5:8 – Amplified Version), “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.”
One of the things I always need to do is to schedule time with God. Now that I’m retired and don’t have the weekly pressure of preaching, it takes more effort to do that. Having no deeds to do and no promises to keep makes for a comfortable retirement, but it misses out on one of the most important things in life: spending time with God regularly. One of the reasons I keep writing these devotions is so I’ll have a schedule that helps me spend time with God’s Word every day. It will affect everything else I do that day. The Israelites recognized that Moses spent time with God. Exodus 34:29 tells us that as Moses descended from Mount Sinai—with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain—he did not realize that the skin of his face shone due to his speaking with the LORD. Those who spend time with Jesus will find confidence and security in their day-to-day life today also. Acts 4:13 (ESV) Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. The Psalmist sings in Psalm 77:12, “I will spend time thinking about everything you have done. I will consider all of your mighty acts.”