Cornerstone

Mark 10:13-16

Jesus was always saying things that caused people to stop to ponder. For example: “The only way you can expect to get into the kingdom of God is to do so like a child.” What in the world could He mean? Since we haven’t totally understood we have hammered on the door of the kingdom trying to force our way in.

Napoleon did not follow the direction of Jesus but he seemed to understand the truth. He thought he could be great because he founded a kingdom on force. Toward the end of his life, however he said, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ alone founded his empire upon love. And at this hour millions of men would die for him.”

So then, how do we enter the kingdom as a child? First we must consider the characteristics of a child. A child is dependent, weak, pliable, teachable, forgiving, loving, and humble. This does not exhaust the list but sets a workable template for those who would come to Christ. To be forgiven of your sinfulness you must come to Him in sorrow confessing the error of your ways while being willing to cast yourself totally upon His guidance for your life. Can you become childlike in order to find peace with God?

Dr. Gayle Woods

Deut. 11:18-25 (19)

James S. Hewett tells that every Sunday morning the fifth graders would line up and recite a section of the creed that had been assigned to them. That continued well for awhile. Then one Sunday they began the class the same way. The first girl recited her line flawlessly: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” Next, a boy, stood up and said: “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.” Then silence settled over the class. Finally, a little girl, spoke up loudly to say, “I’m sorry, sir, but the boy who believes in the Holy Ghost is absent today!”*

If we do not have a vital relationship with the God of the Word there is no way that we can properly learn the Word of God. Learning facts from the Word of God may help us to do well in a Bible Quiz but it certainly won’t shape our character so that we are more like Christ. Only when we are in love with the Author of the Book can we have an intense love for the Bible. Having this love for the Author and the Book we then must make a concentrated effort to blend the Word of God into our lives so that it is part of the fabric of our being that determines our motives, attitudes and actions.

*Adapted from Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 63.

Dr. Gayle Woods