FRIDAY January 26, 2024

Simple Child-like Faith

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

The message of salvation is so simple that a child can understand it. Did you know that most people who accept Christ are very young? Children and teenagers readily accept Christ. As people grow older, they become very set in their ways. They feel less conviction about their sin. Sin hardens the heart. It is truly a miracle of God when someone older surrenders and finally comes to Christ for salvation.

People will make all kinds of excuses for not accepting Christ. Some feel they have to clean up their lives before coming to Him. Not true. Jesus takes us just as we are. It all begins with child-like faith:

Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2-4).

When a sinner repents, the work of sanctification takes place. What is sanctification? The word sanctification means “set apart.” Your life is set apart for God to use. He fills you with His Holy Spirit and empowers you to live the Christian life. This is something you cannot do on your own.

Bad habits are hard to break. When you come to Jesus Christ, sometimes it is still hard to get rid of your old habits and your old ways. You have been doing those things for years! As you repent of your sinful behaviors, reckon the old man (the carnal appetites of your sinful past) to be dead, and obey God’s Word, then the victory can be won.

God has declared His love for you by sending His Son to die on the Cross for your sins. Will you humble yourself before Him today? Again, with simple child-like faith believe in the Son who came to give you eternal life.

We are not called to proclaim philosophy and metaphysics, but the simple gospel. Man's fall, his need of a new birth, forgiveness through atonement, and salvation as the result of faith, these are our battle-ax and weapons of war.
~Charles Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!