LIKE A CHILD

This may be the very first time I decide to write aimlessly, but here goes.

There has got to be a reason in which Jesus loves children with such an extraordinary passion that there would be a specific mention in the gospels for them. The children represented in these gospels served for one purpose; as models. Now it seems absolutely ludicrous that a young child should be the model for the majority, if not all, of those being preached the gospel in those days. A child possesses not an iota of maturity because they are without understanding. There is no way that a full grown man, who has traversed the realms of a variety of vocations; completed the adolescent years of education; and experienced the moments of heartbreak in the multitude of relationships seen, would humble himself to learn from the actions and intent of a child. Oh, but this is the very concept that Jesus is trying to communicate.

For us, who have gone to a numerous amount of church services, attended seminars, and had conversations with Christian brothers and sisters, we've had the concept of humility repeated to us like a cassette tape on perpetual replay. The same goes with the concept of confidence. The concept of humility, in its most rudimentary definition, may be the very definition presented to us in Philippians 2:6; who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. This is where C.S. Lewis has uprooted his definition of humility as self-forgetfulness. Jesus was the originator and claims this depiction of humility. He did not forget his identity, but for the sake of his purpose in descending into the flesh, he discounted it in order to more greatly avert the possibility of the temptation to be self-exalted. He deserved it, but it was most fitting for him to discount it because of the very nature of the incarnation.

What are we to do then? It is imperative that we come and see, that we come and follow, that we imitate Christ. The righteousness of humility holds precedence before many others, and this is the grounds in which righteousness flows out. The humility of Christ is an essential aspect of our submission to Christ, a basis through which a majority of the Christian virtues exist. This is true even for the very characteristics that seem contrary to the concept of humility. I've always pondered how one could embody humility with a godly confidence in Christ. Many times, confidence in our age is birthed in the humanistic attitudes in which we tend to perform. When we are confident in our school work, it is because of our intelligence or work ethic; in our athletic performances, it is because of our skill; our Sunday school lessons taught, it is because of our knowledge and articulation; our preaching of the gospel, it is because of the training of our knowledge in scripture and our passion. How is it that our confidence can arise from a divine source that is present entirely external to ourselves? It seems not to coincide in any means! But we have to trust in that which we have no control, no sovereignty. We have to lose our qualifications, our knowledge, our lives, ourselves. Glorifying Jesus will not be possible, unless we respond in this manner.

It is like a child, who has not gone through the formative years of the adolescent stage when one's identity is drawn out. A child remains humble in innocence because they have gained no cause to boast. Even if they have gained a minuscule reason in which they can boast, it is incomparable with the reasons for boasting their elders may possess. So a child can only boast excessively with confidence, through a confidence espoused from one who is venerated. Therefore, we look to this model, what we call a childlike faith, as a concept much more profound than just a simple faith; though a simple faith in its definition is quite profound. A childlike faith is a faith that is confident in what we hope for, and certain in what we do not see yet also humble in nature because it recognizes that the cause for boasting is not of anything that they inwardly possess. A childlike faith comes in boldness at the wholehearted confidence that the truth that they know is true because it is from the one whom we entitle the Truth. A childlike faith is a belief that is tenaciously gripped and is a faith that sets one ablaze until the race is finished because the boasting happens in Christ. It happens through the infinite and the holy one.

No longer does humility and confidence have to be divided, but when we disregard that the source of confidence is from man, and establish that it is from God, it will not appear without humility. The prerequisite of a godly confidence is humility.

Let us then learn, such as Lucy from Narnia learned, that a childlike faith is a godly faith, the best faith to rest assured in, because this faith is founded in God. Let us embody humility, let us embody confidence.

To God for his glory,
Amen

BEAUTIFICATION

As I find myself catching my breath back after a 3-week session of counseling freshmen guys, I hope to flesh out peculiar thoughts that the Lord has transcended upon my mind. It has been a struggle to even find time to think so I've simply journaled an elaborated and fairly intricate thought that I would be able to reflect on when free time is laid before my plate.

This completely divine wisdom that the Lord has presented before my impaired vision has been sanctified - and through such, clarified. This is also a concept that I present only as insight. It is a very narrow and personal empathy that resonates with a confusing, yet hysterical passage that we find in Romans 7:14-21. While striving in this race, directing our vision at the upward call of heaven, individuals develop passion for foundational biblical truths. We intangibly find ourselves more transformed and conformed to the character of the Lord because of the dynamic ways in which he enamors us and reveals himself to us through experiential scenarios. It is quite clear to us, especially with scripture to support this piece of verity, that we are flawed. We cannot love as greatly as we desire nor can we humble ourselves as lowly as God deserves. We are debilitated to act in righteousness as that which we so yearn. Not only the general version of righteousness though, but it seems ambiguous as to the fact that there is a specific thing in which Paul himself possesses a conviction for, that he conflictingly cannot do. His heart is being torn in two; and here not because there are two good things in which he desires, but two uncontrollable acts in which there is a natural attraction to one and a divine conviction to another. "For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."(v.15b)

The Lord is continually penetrating in my heart and mind to integrate a contextual insight in which could not be humane. Throughout my journey, he's moved me to fall in love with his truth in drastic ways. And amidst this bulky transcendence, my feet have become planted on the narrow path where particular convictions have been targeted because of my constant exposure to them. This list is intricately formed, and ultimately ties together specific forms of righteousness that points to a common ultimatum. It is implanted within me a deep desire to humble myself more and more completely before the Lord, and a desire for the sensitivity to the Spirit in order that it is not i who speak, but he who speaks through me(Matt.10:20). The colossal amount of evidence makes it both apparent for myself and others that this is a divine instillation. One must be self-inquisitive of certain attributes that prove dynamic about their own person. In this self-inquisition, or in other words, reflection, the faithful Lord will prove revelatory in his dominion. Why is it the case that I have this heightened desire for both myself and others to be sanctified on this very narrow subject? Both internally and practically, we begin to identify our inadequacies that trigger our convictions. It is because we are not good at this very thing. The VERY thing that we want to do, we cannot do. It is this continuum of dry experiential learning that has transitioned us to this condition of passion. It is because we cannot perform a task well, that leads us to striving towards perfection.

If anything is verifiable that the Lord has conformed us to faithful living, it will be this very thing! It is that convictions are developed in the peculiar areas of blatant flaws. Yet again with every insight, there remains a subtle presence of a warning. Where there is conviction, there is a danger of the development of ostentation. As one develop convictions, this development is constantly transformed in a process paralleled to the sanctification process. It comes closer to a more complete knowledge because our curiosity spurs our discovery. As these truisms become solidified in our minds, we are qualified to inspired if there is such a qualification, and we are qualified to teach or inform. The reason for the danger of ostentation is that the very knowledge we know much of also hides the very inadequacy that is present within us. Our demonstration of conviction may lead to others' perception of our near conquering of certain immoralities. Of course there will be no conquering until the day of Christ. Let not this ostentation be developed, a reminder I constantly tell myself. Let us become lowly in moving our fear of our inadequacies and our potential ostentation tremble in fear before the righteousness that the Lord moves in us!

God, would you make us conquerors, we look to the day. Father would you haste that day.
In the name of the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen