“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours..”
NUMBERS 32-33
50On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.55“ ‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’ ”(33:50-56)
50On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.
55“ ‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’ ”(33:50-56)MARK 10:1-31
13People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
JOURNAL
What does it mean "to receive the kingdom like a little child"? I think it goes back to truly living in the moment and limiting your mind and heart to the here and now. That's the one thing about small children...everything is immediate, they really don't care about tomorrow or a week from now. They also are not concerned about wealth or position or titles. They live completely in the moment.
While living as an adult...I do have responsibilities to plan, and think about the future, etc. However, it's all in the interpretation. This doesn't mean that I live irresponsibly and completely indulgent but it does mean that my hope and faith is childlike. It means I see God through childlike eyes that does not limit him or dismiss him.
So what does that look like? It's all in the context and I think it's way deeper and simpler all at the same time. I think it would mean that I would be bold in the moment, and not consumed with fear or shame, worry or doubt. It means that I will be open-minded, hopeful and full of joy. Not a bad way to live...this is the mind and heart of the kingdom of God.
What does it mean "to receive the kingdom like a little child"? I think it goes back to truly living in the moment and limiting your mind and heart to the here and now. That's the one thing about small children...everything is immediate, they really don't care about tomorrow or a week from now. They also are not concerned about wealth or position or titles. They live completely in the moment.
So what does that look like? It's all in the context and I think it's way deeper and simpler all at the same time. I think it would mean that I would be bold in the moment, and not consumed with fear or shame, worry or doubt. It means that I will be open-minded, hopeful and full of joy. Not a bad way to live...this is the mind and heart of the kingdom of God.
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom every familya in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
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