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How Do You Sense God's Presence? (Part 4 of 6)
"You should always read the Bible when you're bored or don't want to play," says Katy, age 8. "God is always around you whatever you do. If you were sad, God will still be with you."
Most people, and especially children, would …Read more.
How Do You Sense God's Presence? (Part 3 of 6)
"I sense God's presence when I pray," says Kaillyn, age 9. "God comes into my heart and gives me the power to lift my heart up and tell him all the things I need."
Who are we trying to fool when we project an attitude of …Read more.
How Do You Sense God's Presence? (Part 2 of 6)
"I feel God's presence in school," says Ridge, 7. "I feel God's presence in class."
Ridge, if you can sense God's presence at school in the second grade, you're light years ahead of where I was at age 7.
The presence I recall …Read more.
How Do You Sense God's Presence? (Part 1 of 6)
"I can sense God's presence through my little brother," says Cole, 10. For many with little brothers, sensing God's presence through them would be a most unusual phenomenon. But all things are possible with God.
Cole has more: "When I …Read more.
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Why Did Jesus Say We Must Enter His Kingdom with Childlike Faith?"Children don't know about sin, and that's why they go to heaven. Grownups know about sin, so they get a choice," says Taylor, 8. Taylor, I'm sure your track record isn't perfect. Have you ever disobeyed your parents? No further questions. "You can learn more stuff as a child. A child is smarter than an adult," says Hoss, 7. Most children learn at a faster pace, but this doesn't make them smarter than adults. Hoss, your parents know more than you, and that's a good thing. "I think it means that if you act like an adult, you think you're too good." says Grace, 10. An inflated sense of one's goodness keeps many people out of God's kingdom. Jesus told religious leaders, "Tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you" (Matthew 21:31). Jesus turned everything upside down. Those who appeared to be the least likely candidates entered God's kingdom before those who thought they would be first in line. "I think Jesus meant we have to come to him like a child," says Amanda, 11. "We don't have to say special words. We need to be like a child and not talk fancy. Then, we can go to heaven." Fancy words, religious rituals and clerical garb may impress people, but they don't influence God. He sees the heart. God knows we can deceive ourselves into believing we're good enough to make the grade for heaven by our good works. Jesus is trying to send us a wake-up call when he said simple, childlike faith is needed to enter his kingdom. "I think Jesus meant that you must humble yourself as a child does," says Ally, 12. "He meant that you must be 'born again' and become like a kid with a new start. Or he could have meant that we must be like a child who trusts and loves his parents.
Ally, you've got the picture. In a normal home, children survive by trusting their parents. Small children don't have the experience to make wise choices. Jesus came to Earth to tell us about a benevolent Father and a kingdom in which righteousness and justice prevail. Jesus declared that he was the only way into that kingdom. "Jesus meant that you will never get into heaven unless you truly believe that he died on the cross to forgive us," says Grace Marie, 10. Martin Luther said the faith that results in being declared righteous before a holy God is like the hand of the beggar reaching out to receive a gift. Before God, we're all beggars. The Lord Jesus offers us the gift of eternal life. We must receive his offer by the faith of an empty hand that offers nothing in exchange. Every Christmas, we're reminded that small children don't have a problem receiving gifts. This same capacity for humility carries over into the spiritual realm. Some studies have shown that as much as 85 percent of Christians trusted the Lord Jesus as their savior before the age of 14. Think about this: God wants to be your benevolent parent. You must come to the place where you receive his offer of eternal life with the humility of childlike faith. Memorize this truth: "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Luke 18:17). Ask this question: Have you entered God's kingdom with childlike faith? Listen to a talking book, download the "Kids Color Me Bible" for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the "Mission Explorers Streaming Video" at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version. To find out more about Carey Kinsolving and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CAREY KINSOLVING DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
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