Like a Little Child - Daily Treasure - March 19

A Pilgrimage Fueled by Hope: Like a Little Child

By Sharon W. Betters

TODAY’S TREASURE

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till He has mercy upon us. -Psalm 123:2 ESV

Watching Jesus interact with His Father as a little child interacts with a parent, teaches us the beauty of dependence on our Heavenly Father. Jesus, equal to God, submitted Himself to His Father. Jesus calls on us to become like little children in our dependence on the Father as well.

Before Jesus chose His disciples He prayed all night. Sometime later, after an exhausting day of ministry, Jesus rose early in the morning to pray. When Peter finds Him, he urges Jesus to continue to heal people. What Peter doesn’t know is in the aftermath of what appears to be a successful launch of the ministry of Jesus, this very Son of God goes to His Father for His marching orders for the next day. Jesus once more demonstrates He did not come to do His will, but He came to do His Father’s will. How confusing this was to the disciples.  Yet each day as they were with Jesus, He taught them by His example, to depend on the Father. This is such a beautiful passage that gives us direction on how to approach our daily lives as well. 

I love Today’s Treasure as I picture a maidservant quietly standing next to her mistress, on full alert to meet her desires and needs before she even expresses them. Most of us don’t have a maidservant waiting on us, so this might be a foreign concept. What about the picture of a surgeon focused on saving the life of her patient? She is expecting the surgical nurse to anticipate the exact instrument she needs, almost before she needs it. The maidservant and the surgical nurse succeed if they study the one whom they are serving. Becoming like a little child who is dependent on the Lord, requires we study Him and His Word to learn His instructions.

How do you demonstrate your dependence on your heavenly Father? There is no set in stone plan for a devotional life that will lead to intimacy with God. Jesus models several ways to cultivate intimacy with our Lord. One time He stays up all night to pray. Another time He rises early in the morning. What comes through is Jesus’ relationship to His Father was not relegated to one time of day. He pushed all of life through the grid of dependence on God the Father. 

Do you have a devotional life? I suggest if not, you start by praying before you rise. Give your day to the Lord before you put your feet on the floor. Ask Him to remind you of His presence and desire to shine through your life. If time is short, listen to worship music while you dress or a sermon or Christian broadcast on your way to work or school. Ask the Lord to speak His truth through such messages. Pray before reading a devotional like My Utmost for His Highest or Streams in the Desert, asking the Lord to give you one thought or one promise, that will help with a need in your day. 

PRAYER

Oh Father, what a privilege we have to become like little children, dependent on You, our perfect Father who loves us with a perfect love. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sharon W. Betters is author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness and co-author of Treasures of Faith. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a nonprofit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children, and fourteen grandchildren.

For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.