Image Of Child As Disciple

July 2006

Walking with Master conjures up several images of the Christian life (previously published articles dealing with these images are available at http://www.baptistdigest.com). Today, the image I wish to consider is that of child. God calls his people Israel and their king “my son” (e.g. Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1; Jeremiah 3:14; 2 Samuel 7:14, and Psalm 2:6-7). Jesus describes his relationship with God as a Father/Son relationship and that of his followers along with Paul the apostle as one of childhood by birth and by adoption (Matthew 5:16, 6:1, 7:21, 10:32-33, 11:27; 1 John 3:1-2;  Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:5). I am born anew as a child of God. This is a powerful image of the unbreakable ties that bind disciples of Jesus to God. I am adopted into the family of God. This adoption metaphor speaks to God’s deliberate and intentional choice when he brings us into his family. What joy! What praise! What glory!

Since we are children of God, what significant traits compose this image?

First, as children do, those who walk with the Master trust God, their Father. This trust asks for our humility and total dependence. This humble and dependent trust allows us to request our daily bread, forgiveness of our sins, and rescue from evil. It also provides us the avenue to accept and request God to do as he wills, continue to usher in his kingdom and spread his loving Abba reputation in our lives and in his world (Matthew 6:9-13).

Second, as children are innocent, children of God or those who walk with the Master learn by training (not simply trying) to live innocent or holy lives. This means they aim at perfection in holy living though they may not attain it. Intentionally, they train to live innocently, without blame, and without blemish (Philippians 2:14-15). Birth or adoption (being a child of God) does not guarantee holiness or transformation of character. Transformation takes much grace and much effort. The two are never mutually exclusive in Scripture. Grace is opposed to earning (an attitude) but never to effort. This is why the Scriptures are at ease recommending that we work out our salvation and that we participate in the transformation of our own character by putting on Christ and putting off the world.

Third, children naturally listen, talk, and respond. Children of God live a listening, talking, responsive life. They don’t only pray on occasions but live a prayerful life. This simple pattern of children’s relationship to their parents is a paradigm of simple prayer for the children of God. Before children learn to speak, they learn to listen. Both are necessary for a proper response to the Father. Though there may be more mature patterns of prayer, the simplicity of asking, waiting for God to speak, and responding can only be neglected to our peril.

Fourth, as any who have been around children may notice, children play. They mostly play… with gusto, with marvel, and with honesty. Children of God would do well to recapture this sense of walking with the Master. When one ceases to wonder, and play, one loses the joy of life with Christ. All work and no play makes for a dull church life. We love play in children but some time we despise it in grown up church! No one should be able to bring an accusation against those who walk with the Master as being “scrooges”. Jesus lived a balanced life of pray and play as a child and as an adult. Both are acts of worship.

Fifth, and last, children grow. Parents chart their children’s physical growth and anticipate their emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth. Growth is a condition of life. No growth is a condition of death. Luke wisely adds that Jesus kept on growing in wisdom and in favor with God and man (2:52). The author of Hebrews makes the point that Jesus, as a “Son, learned obedience through suffering” (5:8).  Peter tells the church to grow (continuous present) in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).  Beside preaching and classes (small groups and Sunday School) what is your church doing to help those who walk with the master in the transformation of their character?

Walking with the master takes the trust, the innocence, the prayerfulness, the playfulness, and the transformation of character that we have come to expect in children. Surely, none of these traits should be absent from the grown ups. As parents know: once a parent always a parent! But also once a child of God always a child of God!

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