July 8. Mark 10. Matthew Barbero

A Childlike Mindset

In Mark 10:13-16, we see that Jesus has a soft spot for children. In fact, in verse 15, Jesus commands us to receive the kingdom of God as a child. Why is Jesus calling us to be more like children? Is Jesus implying that children possess a certain kind of wisdom that adults lack? If so, what is this wisdom? And how do we get it back? Think about your own childhood. Did you believe in God? I know that I certainly did. 

As a child I had no problem believing in God. In fact, I recall continually feeling the presence of God around me as a child. This feeling stayed with me until I was about 10 years old. So, then what changed? Well, I believe that I became more self-aware at age 10; and for me, self-awareness always led to sin. For the next 17 years my life mimicked that of the prodigal son’s. 

When I finally came back to God at age 27, I realized that it was the same God that I felt with me as a child. I then realized that God never changes. People do. This realization is what led me to repent, believe, and be baptized. This experience was over 3 years ago now and I am still a faithful follower of Christ. Today’s scripture helps me remember that I must never abandon the childlike mindset that brought me back to Christ in the first place. Praise be to God.