Expert: Marilyn - 5/10/2005

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Marilyn,
      could you please direct me to the passage where Jesus says there must be a child like faith. I have forgotton the exact words,and would like to revisit my thoughts on it.
         Thank you ,Phil
I believe past corespondence was lost due to my computer ignorance,sorry.
Answer -
Hello Phil;

Do you need anything from the previous correspondence?  I hesitated to ask you more specifically what the Lord had done in your life, I didn't want to be invasive, but I felt I could target my response more accurately if I knew.  I ended up writing a sort of broad “directive” on how you could deal with the situation.  

In Matthew 18; Mark 9:33-42 and Luke 9:46-50 is a scene where Jesus has a little child stand in the middle of the group and speaks to them about how a person must become like a little child—humble and trusting—to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  In Mark we see this scene occurring the context of the Apostles arguing about who will be the greatest in Heaven and Luke describes the scene very similarly.  

In another scene parents are bringing their children to Jesus so He may touch them, Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16 and Luke 18:15-17.  The disciples try to run them off, but Jesus says, “…I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

I recommend you purchase an inexpensive Bible you can write in.  When a verse pops out at you as if intended for you, right now, in that moment, write the date next to it and a word to remind you what was going on in your life at the time.   

Write the Greek or Hebrew meaning of a word next to it when you discover it if it seems important.

Underline verses you feel important, write the other places pertinent information about that verse are found at the bottom of the page with the chapter number and verse number to indicate what the references go with.  When you find a passage that is particularly relevant to important issues, write a brief description at the top of the page and underline the passage or indicate with an arrow.

For example, in this case, at the top of the page you might write:  "Faith like a child"  Let's say you are looking at the passage in Matthew.  So at the bottom of the page in small, fine lettering next to the edge of the paper (you just have no idea how many references you might end up with) write "19:13 see Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17".  Do the same in Mark and Luke to refer back to the other places where the story is found.  In this manner your Bible becomes an even greater helper in your study.

Hope you're doing great,

God bless you,

Marilyn


Marilyn,
     I remember most of your last correspondence and found it very helpfull, thank you. I listen to the FLN network and Dr. David Jeramiah, and he said once you were born again that the lord will not leave you and It does feel that way. I want to nurture in me what he has given me. I guess I just expect results to quickly,It seems the best nurturing environment is in the bible,and that is where I need to focus, along with felloship of others. If Jesus couldn't get rusults from the entire mass what can I expect!Then again maybe he did,and it's not fullfiled.I don't know if it's the right way to look at it or not but it seems to me that until every individual in a society is as instinctivly concerned about the survival of that society as they are concerned about there ownsurvival and preservation,that things can not improve.If we as a whole could practice the things god wants us to practice,we could achieve results.In the present I will continue to look, listen and try to understand his will.
Thank you again, you have been very helpfull,any comment is appreciated.
Phil

Answer
Hi Phil;

Jesus didn't get results from the entire mass of people who heard Him when He was here in the flesh.  Some people just aren't going to accept Him as Lord.  Our job is to tell everyone the Good News, but it's not our job to worry about whether or not they'll believe it.  The Holy Spirit has to woo persons to the Lord from within each heart, that's His job and when we try to do it we just mess things up.

It would be nice if everyone was on the same page working toward the good of all, but the most important thing is if YOU and I are doing God's will.  We can't do anything about what anyone else is doing, we can only do something about what we are doing.  And if we are spending time focusing on what others are or aren't doing, we won't be doing what we're supposed to be doing.  Once again, it's the Holy Spirit who must bring other people in line, not us, therefore, we shouldn't spend any time measuring what anyone else is doing.  We certainly can pray for others and we're commanded to do so, but once the person is in the Lord's Hands, it should no longer be any concern of ours.  

God just needs you and I to keep in His Word, worship Him, obey His will, do our best and love others.  He'll take care of the everything else.

I look forward to hearing from you again soon,

Marilyn