When we were very young children we fully depended on our parents and other caregivers to tell us exactly what to do and when to do it. In doing so naturally, this left all decision-making and responsibility in their hands; not ours.  When we were hurt and bullied we ran to our parents to solve the issue. When we fell down, we ran to parents to fix it.  God-honoring, believing parents will soothe the pain of the hurt caused by others against us with words of comfort along with wisdom for walking with God as we walk with the bullies of this life in view.

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13:11

I am reminded of this verse as we read our next Psalm, remembering the enemies and hurts of my past who were led by the trait of evil called selfishness.  I was led by self more times than I liked for sure.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” when we think first of ourselves with our main goal of self-satisfaction.

The Apostle Paul describes the transition from spiritual immaturity to maturity with Godly wisdom. He highlights this natural progression to the Corinthian church right in the middle of the “love” chapter, as we call it today! The church at Corinth were behaving badly and very childishly.  Paul writes that in childhood, one thinks, speaks, and reasons as a child, but maturity requires leaving behind “childish things” for adult understanding. Paul does not criticize being a child, but encourages moving past immature ways of thinking (selfishness, pettiness) toward a more mature perspective.

As young children dependent on our parents for all the things of life; we turned to them for love, our basic human need.  When they gave their unconditional love; we trusted and obeyed them even more for we knew their love would guide us to all that is good for us. 

As we come to know God, our Father in Heaven, and confess our sins in Jesus Name, we become more spiritually mature in our relationship with Him, too! By the power and guidance of God’s Holy Spirit now living in our being; this relationship matures and becomes progressively more intimate when we seek God first at the beginning of each day, express our love for Him, thank Him for all He is and what He has done, while asking for His wisdom, insight and understanding for each new day.  Praying “His will be done” is the cry of our hearts and the surrender of self to His wisdom!

We learn as we mature in our faith in God that we can turn to God in times of trouble and know He is always with us.  As a result, we praise and thank Him when we see His glory at work all around us. 

THIS is David as he writes and sings praises to God consistently while his faith solidifies into a intimate relationship with God.  David comes to know the heart of God as his heart consistently runs after the heart of God.

PSALM 3, The Message

God! Look! Enemies past counting!
Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery:
“Hah! No help for him from God!”

^3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides;
You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
With all my might I shout up to God,
His answers thunder from the holy mountain.

^5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep.
Then I’m up again—rested, tall and steady,
Fearless before the enemy mobs
Coming at me from all sides.

⁷ Up, God! My God, help me!
Slap their faces,
First this cheek, then the other,
Your fist hard in their teeth!

⁸ Real help comes from God.
Your blessing clothes your people!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“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.” –Jesus, Matthew 18:2-4

Jesus is not saying become childish in our faith but to be fully become child-like in our approach, belief, and behavior with God leading us. 

The childish demand their own way, manipulate others, and bargain with God in all kinds of situations—even at church!  We all see it.  We’ve all done it.

The child-like seek the Father daily, tell Him honestly whatever is on their minds, run to God first in times of trouble, because they love Him back. The child-like know God intimately as the one who loves them consistently with an unchanging love that can be counted on forever!  A child-like faith depends on God. The child-like knows God with a hearts’ desire to grow to become like him in every way. “I want to be just like dad” is the cry of their hearts.  A child-like faith trusts without doubt or question because they mature enough to know that God, the Father can be trusted and is forever faithful.

An unspoiled child has the characteristics that make for humility: trust, dependence, a desire to make others happy, and an absence of boasting or selfish desire to be greater than others. (Like Christ is described in Philippians 2 and teaches on the Mount, Matthew 5-7!)  By nature, all of us are rebels who want to be celebrities instead of servants. We need a great deal of teaching from God’s Holy Spirit for us to learn the lessons of humility.  “Become like a child who humbly and honestly trusts the Father.”

David sings for all the world to know— “REAL help comes from God.” David didn’t have time to go through a long liturgy, for his own life was at stake as he ran from Saul, his enemy.  In fact, the future of the kingdom also hung in the balance. David knew that God is “A very present help in [times of] trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Without ignoring his problems, David lifted his eyes from the threatening situation around him and looked by faith to the Lord. He knew he was in danger, but God was his shield.  Israel’s king was referred to as a “shield” because He protected the nation (Psalm 84:9); but David depended on God as his shield Who protected him. These and other metaphors are used often to describe God by those who loved him back with all their hearts, minds, and souls.

So, what are we singing for all the world to know?  Let us pause, pray, and seek God for the answer and receive real help to be more like the Father each day we live on earth with Him.

Lord,

I’m singing the song “New Wine” to you this morning in Your Name for your glory and my good as you lead me…

… In the crushing, In the pressing
You are making New wine
In the soil, I now surrender
You are breaking New ground

… So I yield to You and to Your careful hand
When I trust You I don’t need to understand

… Make me Your vessel, Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing, But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

… In the crushing, In the pressing
You are making New wine
In the soil, I Now surrender
You are breaking New ground
You are breaking New ground

… So make me Your vessel
Make me an offering, Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing, But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

… ‘Cause where there is new wine
There is new power, There is new freedom
And the kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames, To carry Your new fire today

… ‘Cause where there is new wine
There is new power, There is new freedom
And the kingdom is here, I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today

… So make me Your vessel, Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
God, I came here with nothing, But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

(Source: LyricFind, Songwriters: Brooke Ligertwood, New Wine lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing)

In Jesus Name, Amen