I Corinthians 13, Part I of II
There are two parts of I Corinthians 13 that speak to me so clearly...and no, the verses I am referring to are not in the "love section" that we are all so familiar with. Near the end of that chapter are a few key verses which hold within them insurmountable truths....and wonderful wisdom.
"It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." (I Corinthians 13:11, NLT)
What is the difference, exactly, between childish and childlike? Hm. I happened upon this verse the same week that I happened upon a devotional about the same topic (coincidene? I think not.). One is definitely preferred over the other.
Childish is something that we see out in public, but certainly don't want to attach to our own personalities. We see childish behavior all the time....primarily in children themselves. It may be a toddler throwing an all-out tantrum in the toy department....or a child who is 14 years old but still afraid of the dark, and cries at bedtime each night. Childish behavior is evident by whining, crying, worrying, frustration, and selfishness.
Adults can be childish, as well. Sometimes we act childish when we didn't get the job promotion we thought that we deserved. We scoff at the person who moved up ahead of us in line, and whisper bad things about their mom under our breath. We beep incessantly at a poor little old lady in traffic who cuts in front of us because we were in her blind spot. We stick out our lip when we can't have the new car or new house like our friends just bought.
God says here to "put childish ways behind you." That means leave them, and cleave to Him and to the responsibilities of being an adult.
Yet what sense does it make that we are still to be childLIKE? Well, think about it again from a perspective of looking at a small child. A child who has loving, Godly parents is secure. She knows that Mom and Dad will always be back to get her when she's left in a nursery. She knows that, when she is hungry, Mom will prepare food for her to eat. She knows that she will get new shoes if her toes become cramped in her current sneakers.
She is not afraid of her mom and dad abandoning her at church, never to return to pick her up from the nursery. She has no fear of her mother withholding food from her hungry tummy, or worse yet, giving her something that is not food at all to eat. She is not fearful of having to go barefoot when he shoes become too small....after all, it is not her fault that she is growing. God designed kids to grow; that's the way it works. And He provides for when that happens.
So, we are to be childlike in our approach to God, I believe. We are to humbly accept the call He gives us....after all, He is our Parent, and He does know best for us. Even a child doesn't fully understand what he or she really needs for life. But God does. He wants us to love Him fully, totally, innocently, wholly. To have total and utmost trust that He will see us through, pick us up, and feed and clothe us when we are hungry or bare.
I only hope that I will continue to grow less childISH and become more childLIKE. After all, God's kingdom is more easily attainable for those who are simple and open to Him coming into their hearts....childlike, tender, and accepting hearts.
"It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." (I Corinthians 13:11, NLT)
What is the difference, exactly, between childish and childlike? Hm. I happened upon this verse the same week that I happened upon a devotional about the same topic (coincidene? I think not.). One is definitely preferred over the other.
Childish is something that we see out in public, but certainly don't want to attach to our own personalities. We see childish behavior all the time....primarily in children themselves. It may be a toddler throwing an all-out tantrum in the toy department....or a child who is 14 years old but still afraid of the dark, and cries at bedtime each night. Childish behavior is evident by whining, crying, worrying, frustration, and selfishness.
Adults can be childish, as well. Sometimes we act childish when we didn't get the job promotion we thought that we deserved. We scoff at the person who moved up ahead of us in line, and whisper bad things about their mom under our breath. We beep incessantly at a poor little old lady in traffic who cuts in front of us because we were in her blind spot. We stick out our lip when we can't have the new car or new house like our friends just bought.
God says here to "put childish ways behind you." That means leave them, and cleave to Him and to the responsibilities of being an adult.
Yet what sense does it make that we are still to be childLIKE? Well, think about it again from a perspective of looking at a small child. A child who has loving, Godly parents is secure. She knows that Mom and Dad will always be back to get her when she's left in a nursery. She knows that, when she is hungry, Mom will prepare food for her to eat. She knows that she will get new shoes if her toes become cramped in her current sneakers.
She is not afraid of her mom and dad abandoning her at church, never to return to pick her up from the nursery. She has no fear of her mother withholding food from her hungry tummy, or worse yet, giving her something that is not food at all to eat. She is not fearful of having to go barefoot when he shoes become too small....after all, it is not her fault that she is growing. God designed kids to grow; that's the way it works. And He provides for when that happens.
So, we are to be childlike in our approach to God, I believe. We are to humbly accept the call He gives us....after all, He is our Parent, and He does know best for us. Even a child doesn't fully understand what he or she really needs for life. But God does. He wants us to love Him fully, totally, innocently, wholly. To have total and utmost trust that He will see us through, pick us up, and feed and clothe us when we are hungry or bare.
I only hope that I will continue to grow less childISH and become more childLIKE. After all, God's kingdom is more easily attainable for those who are simple and open to Him coming into their hearts....childlike, tender, and accepting hearts.
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