Running from the Parent

by Cathy Vinson

Don't we derive pleasure from watching a toddler's discovery that his wobbly, jerky legs can actually carry him away from this pursuing parents? What a beam spreads across his face as the realization dawns that he can get away! The initial discovery is amusing to all.

Aren't we delighted with the child, the child of joy? His very presence in our midst teaches us how to receive the Kingdom. Yet even in Jesus' experience, the adult tried to hinder the child's coming to Him (Luke 18:15-17). A valuable principle exists here.

Consider the child in you who longs toward the simplicity of God's joy, a joy that translates into inner strength..."the joy of the Lord is my strength" (Neh 8:10). There also dwells the adult in us who tries to hinder the child from coming, from casting off his cares, from running, skipping in liberty, and most sadly, from beholding the continual joy of the Lord "...For I tell you that their (the children's) angels in heaven always see the FACE of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10).

Paul knew the inner hinderer: "For in my inner being I DELIGHT in God's law, but I see another law at work...What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:22,24) In the same way Jesus intervened to gather to Himself the children from the well-meaning disciples, so it is only He who will deliver us.

Rick Joiner has prophetically spoken of our day as a time of learning "how to MAINTAIN the joy of the Lord. The Lord is pouring out a special anointing of joy to help deliver us from our bondage." Run with it! Run from the adult who would hinder such a one from entering the Kingdom that "belongs to such as these." "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Luke 18:17).

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God.

(Luke 18:15-17)