In his book The Mystery of Children, Mike Mason reminds us that, —“Jesus wants us to become like children because our spirits lived closest to the surface during our childhood. In childhood our hearts are the most transparent, most vulnerable, most malleable. Growing up usually means covering up our spirit more and more with flesh. God wants us to become the person we really are inside, the person we were born to be. Becoming childlike involves peeling away the masks to get back to the real, rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed face beneath."

When we’re born, God makes us dependent on parents or caregivers for the first few years of our lives. In many ways, our parents represent God to us. In a perfect world, this would be a good thing. Now, let us picture when a child reaches five or six years of age. The child goes up to his parents and asks, “Mommy and Daddy, what is God like?” The parents might look at their child and say, “God is a lot like us—He is loving and kind and patient. He is proud of you and is always there when you need Him. You are a treasure to God and He loves you no matter what. He likes to spend time with you and sing over you. And out of His love, God disciplines you to help you grow.”

Imagine the wide-eyed child who hears these words. Wow! With parents like these, what child wouldn’t believe in God? God’s love for us is good news, indeed! 

This is Luis Palau.