Childlike Trust in Christ Mark 10:13-16

Text: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”

Proverbs 3:5-7. 

Good morning, believing/trusting Christian!  It is taught by some that, many times when we see the word ‘believe’ in the King James Version Bible, we should better translate that word as ‘trust’.  The 100% accuracy of this teaching is, for me, not presently attainable, but I can certainly understand the concept such a translation brings to my deeper understanding of inspired Scripture verses. 

To truly believe in the Living Lord God – is certainly to whole-heartedly trust Him; to trust in His written Word; to know for a certainty that He is the only one we can completely and totally TRUST for Salvation and forgiveness of all our sins.

Scripture Examples: John 3:16:  One of the most known and repeated Scripture verses worldwide is John chapter 3, and verse 16.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth (trusteth) in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  The continuous verb ‘believeth’, means we believe and continue to believe; and ‘trusteth’ is to trust and to continually trust.  It is use of a continuous verb.

One can immediately see the concept I mention, working together to give us a better understanding of the use of words in Scripture: to truly ‘believe’, necessitates a full ‘trust’ in what, or in this case Whom, one believes.  Sinners will never place complete trust in One Whom we really do not believe.  Sinners can never put our full belief, on One Whom we do not completely trust.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him (the Lord God): for he that cometh (comes, and continues to come) to God must believe that He is (exists), and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  (Hebrews 11:6)

Childlike Trust:  Childlike (not childish!) trust is the theme of this Bible Lesson.  We can all see this childlike trust in exercise continually in our own homes, or in the homes of close relatives, as little children obey their parents, and take every word their parents say as absolute truth. 

Profound TRUST is placed in the parent/parents who show love and take care of children’s every need.  So much so that, obedience is given willingly, and needs no enforcement by parental discipline.  Little children and the childlike trust they naturally exercise in their homes, is a perfect picture, therefore, of the total heart-trust required for true Christian belief.

Today’s selected Bible verses in our Marching in Mark’s Gospel exposition reinforces this concept of childlike trust.  The little children’s parents have heard about the Lord Jesus and are come unto Him in childlike wonder and trust – bringing their “…young children to Him, that He should touch them…” (V.13) The young children, trusting completely in their parent’s discernment, and knowing the love the parents have for them, come willingly to Christ to be touched by Him.  Trust is the underlying theme of the entire scene.

The disciples, on the other hand, seeing how busy the Lord Jesus currently is, teaching, preaching, and healing the multitudes – “…rebuked those that brought them.” (V.13) Goes to show us that even the closest followers of the risen Christ Jesus have fallibilities.

“But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer (allow) the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God.” (V.14)

Old Testament Scripture was already revealed on what God’s will is on this subject: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  (Ephesians 6:4)

The author believes that, the souls of elect little children, and the mentally incapacitated; dying before they reach the full ‘age of understanding’, go straight to Heaven: “…for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”  (V.14)

Full Trust = Faith: “Verily I (Christ Jesus) say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein.” (V.15) Now we more clearly understand the importance of having a childlike faith, a childlike trust; a childlike belief in the truth of God’s Word - and receiving the Gospel truths with the heart of a little child.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (trusteth, trusts, and continues to trust in Christ).” (Mark 9:23)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“Let us learn, for one thing, from this passage, how much attention the souls of children should receive from the Church of Christ. The Great Head of the Church found time to take special notice of children. Al­though His time on earth was precious, and grown-up men and women were perishing on every side for lack of knowledge, He did not think little boys and girls of small importance. He had room in His mighty heart even for them. He declared by His outward gesture and deed, His good will toward them. And not least, He has left on record words concerning them, which His Church should never forget, “Of such is the kingdom of God.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

Thought: Let the little children be brought into the Presence of Christ at an early age; let our homes be filled with Bible knowledge and Christian practice of it. Time is short.