Paper Hearts
A couple of weeks ago I went to summer camp with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders from my church. There I was a fishing assistant. Now you may be questioning my manhood right now because who needs a fishing assistant? Let me explain; I assisted the kids at the camp as they were fishing the lake. Don’t worry I am a real man. I promise.
At this camp, I had the opportunity to preach to the kids, encourage the children, and also support the counselors at the camp as they guide these kids through their week long summer camp. One night during the chapel (worship service) each child received a paper heart. The teacher explained that the paper heart represents us, because of our nature, sinfulness, pride, selfishness, etc.… Our heart is broken in pieces. Each kid began to rip their paper hearts into pieces, but then the teacher shared that God had a plan of redemption. Jesus went to the cross and took our sinfulness upon the cross to pay our debt.
The teacher then explained that each kid could come to the front of the stage where a cross was standing, and they could lay their broken torn up pieces at the foot of the cross and take a new complete heart. Before the teacher was done explaining what to do the kids jumped up and went to the cross.
On Our Own We Are A Bunch Of Pieces, With Jesus, We Are Made Whole
For one moment I was shocked, they didn’t wait for their cue. In the words of Stephanie from Full House, how rude! But then I was reminded of something that I have heard many times from the Bible. We (adults) should have a childlike faith. These kids were not worried about who was watching them, who may be judging, what anyone else may think. They knew that alone they are a bunch of pieces, but through Christ, they are made whole. They went to the cross.
He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4)
Where have you allowed the “adult” concerns enter your actions and thoughts? Where have you begun thinking you know better than you once have? Jesus calls us to take the position of a kid. To act and think in faith like a child. The beautiful part, we have the knowledge of an adult. We have a better understanding of the Bible, we know more about how great God is. So let us live in faith like a child but grow in the knowledge of God.
While We Grow Up Let Us Pray That Our Faith Never Does
Today, look at your life, your actions, your thoughts. Where can you release your control and step out in faith? What can you do differently than you currently are?
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