Scripture reference: Mark 10:15

One of the greatest problems the Modern Church has created for mankind is making Christianity far more complicated and complex than God made it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is really quite simple and straight forward. But man's ego and need to feel important has added requirements and restrictions to Christ Gospel, just as the ancient Jewish priests added to the laws God gave to the people through Moses. And Jesus seemed to know this would happen. So he showed open disdain for the Pharisees with their complicated and burdensome additions to God's law. And he made it clear that anyone who does not accept the offer of salvation with the simplicity of a child cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.

You can conduct your own instructive demonstration of what Jesus means when he implores us to "receive the kingdom of God as a little child." Gather together a small group of children between the ages of four and six. Then present a platter of cupcakes or donuts, and offer one to each child. What will most likely happen is that each child will accept the offer of the treat with a smile, and perhaps a thank you. That is all. They will not question your motive for offering the treat. They will not agree to accept the offer only if they can pay for it. They will not refuse the offer on the grounds that they do not feel worthy of it. They will not refuse the offer because they do not want to feel obligated to do something for you in return. They will not state that having accepted the offer makes them special. They will simple be happy that the offer was make, accept the offer with joy, and go off to enjoy what they have been freely given. They might even freely offer to share some of their treat with a parent, sibling, or friend.

This is precisely how Jesus expects us to receive the unconditional, unqualified offer of salvation. He paid the price of the entry fee into the kingdom of God, and offers it to us freely. All we have to do is accept it as freely and unconditionally as it is offered. We do not have to pay for it; for in truth we cannot. As it is a gift it is not our worthiness which is at issue, but the generosity of the giver. And because it is not a loan there is no debt to repay. It is simply a gift offered in love by the Father through the Son.

How rude would you consider it if someone insisted on paying for a Christmas gift you had given them? How hurt would you be if someone to whom you had given a birthday gift wanted to know what you expected in return? How insulted would you be if someone refused to believe you did not have some secrete motive for giving them some cookies you made? Can you imagine how God feels when the great gift he offers to us out of love is not simply accepted with a smile and a thank you? What must he think of those who insist that they must try to pay for the gift? How hurt must he be by those who refuse to believe that he does not have some hidden motive that will place us in debt and bondage to him? For all God does is offer us the gift of his love. And all we have to do is accept it the same way a little child would accept a treat from one of us.

There is one more childlike action that is expected of us. Just as a little child might freely offer to share his treat with another, so we are to share the gift of God's love with others. And, just as the offer was made to us without conditions and restrictions, we are to give God's love to others in the same manner. Just as a child would. For Jesus has instructed us, "Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8)

May the joy of God's love be in your heart. May those you share it with accept it as freely as a little child would. Amen.