"Practically Divine" - Week 5

I can’t tell you how often I’ve prayed this week for God to lead you exactly where you need to go in the chapter, in your story, and in the book of Mark. I’ve had so much in my heart and mind. I never could have nor should have said it all. I’m trusting Him to guide you throughout the week.

Read Mark 10:13-31.

This is a familiar story, right? It’s so familiar that there are drawings and paintings that have Jesus portrayed with children. He never sent them away. He always made space for them, and He often rebuked anyone that would try to keep them away.

I know you noticed that as you read today. There is something else that I noticed that I’ve not recognized before. It’s very interesting to me how the people represented in the Gospels were consumed by hierarchy. And, everyone wanted to find the group of people he could position himself above. The Pharisees were “better than” the disciples (and anyone else really). They constantly wanted there to be separation among the good/bad, right/wrong, clean/unclean. And, of course, the Pharisees sat above everyone else.

In an earlier passage we read about James and John conversing with Jesus about who was greatest and who would be able to sit at Jesus’ right and left. Bless them! They did not know what they were asking for. They just knew that there was a hierarchy, and they wanted to be at the top.

Today, it’s almost as if the ragamuffin group of disciples believes they’ve finally found a group they “rank” higher than…. The children. But, no. Jesus confronts them and makes it very known that He is present for the children.

It’s ironic that our humanity naturally seeks position, rank, and priority yet Jesus was always for humility. No matter how often He taught that Kingdom way is last to be first and first would be last, we can’t seem to fully understand it.

But, the children! What is Jesus teaching us through the children. Yes. I believe Jesus had a sensitivity to actual children. There was something about their nature that He esteemed. I also think He was demonstrating that He desires spending time with the ones that don’t fight and push for first, know they don’t know everything, and naturally look for guidance and instruction. I believe Jesus desires that we always live with that mentality. It’s more of a mindset than an age range.

We ARE children of God. Even if we live to be 100, we are children of God. While that doesn’t give us an excuse to live spiritually, emotionally, or even physically immature, it IS an invitation to live in a posture of humility. We get to celebrate the reality that we don’t know everything, we will make mistakes, and we need constant supervision. Yay! I am not enough and that makes me the perfect candidate to be fully loved and accepted by my Father.

Daughters of the Creator and King also have a responsibility. Once I confess I don’t know everything, and I can’t do everything, and I’ll always need to look to my Father for guidance, I must offer the same grace and space to everyone else on the earth. We are all in a process and only Father knows how it’s supposed to play out.

Becca ended this chapter with these words,

Sometimes I think we are about halfway to the truth. We see signs along the way, but we still have a long way to go. You are not there yet. I am not there yet. But we have caught some glimpses in signs and stories left like bread crumbs along the way. Keep following them, planning and being open to surprising moments when you once again are graced to come to find out.

God, thank you for making us your daughters. Continue to show us what that means. I wonder if we had a better idea of how glorious it is to be able to call You Father we’d be less likely to have our eyes on everyone else’s paper. If I truly understood how undeserving I am of the gift You’ve offered and how delighted You are to offer it to me, wouldn’t I simply sit in Your presence with a grateful heart. Help us to understand it and help us to have patience for the process. Your Word says You use it all for your glory and our good, and we want to trust that! Amen.