What do you think of when you look at a baby? Do you look upon them and think to yourself, “This child certainly messes up his/her diaper a lot,” or, “why does this child cry so much?” Perhaps you look at a baby’s innocence and see potential growth. Maybe you have few immediate expectations but encouraging future expectations – especially if that baby is your own. My sons are now 16 and 26 years old. I still look at them and see the innocence of children inside them. Their ages will never matter because they’ll always be my little boys.
Premature expectations are dangerous. Unreasonable expectations are harmful and no expectations have the ability to stunts a child’s growth.
When I first gave my heart to Jesus, many referred to me as a “baby Christian.” I had never heard that phrase. My mentor and I discussed it one day, she told me, “What they mean to say is that you’re new in the Lord.” What kept coming up for me was, what did it matter whether I was new or old in the Lord? Did people have fewer expectations of me? Did they think my biblical ignorance would prevent my ability to comprehend or prevail upon me the need to question people in areas where I lacked knowledge? Was there something to be ashamed of? I think that, for a short while, I took offense to that type of comment - that is - until I realized that being a “baby” or “new in the Lord” gave me access to a special promise.
When a person stops asking questions or enquiring into the mysteries of God, have they grown up or have they stopped growing? When my children were young, like many others, they were inquisitive. Almost every sentence began with “who, what, why, when, where, or how?” I don’t think God gets annoyed when we ask questions. I don’t think we can ask too many questions. As a matter of fact, I’m certain that this is exactly how we are expected to seek His Kingdom and to seek a deeper intimacy with Him, His Son and His Spirit.
Today, the very comment that the enemy once used to tempt my pride is the very term I apply to myself and I do so with a righteous pride. Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it,” Mark 10:14-15.
As a new teacher of God’s Word, I am in awe at the questions that God lays on the hearts of those who are hungry for His Manna. Some of the students have been lifelong Christians, others not. But there is one thing they share and that is their insatiable appetite to be nourished by God’s Living Word. This is what Jesus meant when He said we are to receive the kingdom as children – always curious – never satisfied unless our hearts, souls, minds and spirits are growing and strengthening us through Him and for His glory.
The only ‘stupid’ question is the one that never is asked. Let us all mature from being infants, but God bless us all that we might always remain as children.
