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At that time the disciples came up and asked Jesus, “Who then is [really] the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  And He called a little child to Himself, and put him in the midst of them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn-about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].  Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My Name receives and accepts and welcomes Me.”   Matthew 18:1-5 AMP

Jesus absolutely amazes me, just as I know He did His own disciples at the time.  I love the scenario in this scripture - the disciples in all their bravado walking up to the Lord and baiting Him with this question.  Who indeed is the greatest in the Kingdom?  His standards are so different from our own.  I wonder if He took a certain delight in turning the tables on His disciples, and shaking their core beliefs at every turn!  But look again at this scripture passage.  Jesus, as only He could, quickly cuts down to the heart of the matter.  He doesn’t turn around and say, “Oh, you want to know who the greatest in the kingdom is?  Why it’s you Peter, and you John, and you Luke.”  He knows the hearts of all men, so He went straight to their hearts and not only told them, but showed them who the greatest of the kingdom is…a little child.

“What!?” I can hear Peter gasp.  “I don’t understand…” says John.  And so begins one of the most important object lessons that Jesus would ever give His beloved disciples.

“Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn-about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]” Jesus says.  It’s almost as if Jesus is saying, “Just because you’ve walked with me and believe that you know me and even though I’ve chosen you - that’s not enough.”  Even Judas, the one who would betray him, could lay claim to those credentials.

Jesus had a similar conversation with Nicodemus.

Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (a leader, an authority) among the Jews, who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know and are certain that You have come from God [as] a Teacher; for no one can do these signs (these wonderworks, these miracles–and produce the proofs) that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born?” Jesus answered, “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.”  John 3:1-5 AMP

Jesus really is serious about this.  First we must repent, then be born again (completely trusting in His sacrifice for us at Calvary), and thirdly, we must remain like children.  The children that inhabit the kingdom of heaven are “trusting, lowly (humble), loving and forgiving”.  As children of the Kingdom we follow our Father wherever He leads.  We are born through the power of the Holy Spirit, and He bears witness with our spirits that we are truly sons and daughters of the living God.  It is through Him we cry, “Abba Father!”

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  Romans 8:15

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”  Galatians 4:6

Do you remember as a small child how you never thought about how to pay the bills, or fix a leaky faucet, or even what your next meal was going to be?  Do you remember a time when you completely trusted your parent(s) to entirely take care of you?  We had F-A-I-T-H in whatever they said.  We could bank on it.  It was only as we grew older that we began to realize that not all adults in our lives keep their promises.

I think this is why Jesus called a “little child” to Himself.  Little children trust, love, and forgive without really thinking about it.  They expect their needs to be met, do not hold back their reality from you and are entirely transparent.  If they are tired they fall asleep, or cry because they need to.  If they’re hungry they’ll tell you, if they’re lonely they’ll seek you out.  If they’ve done something wonderful they want to share it with you right away.  They are full of life, full of energy, full of questions and full of wonder.  They are eager to learn new things, and don’t pretend they know it all.  If they need help they ask for it.  Most of the time they walk around fearless, to the consternation of their mothers.  They believe they can fly, swim the deepest oceans, and climb the highest mountains.  Nothing is impossible for them.

We grow up too quickly, and forget our childhood days and our childhood ways.  Through experience and hard-knocks we learn that it’s safer to be self-sufficient, and not to rely too heavily on those around us. We hide our true feelings, and say what others want to hear.  We eat when we’re not hungry because we’re lonely, sad or fearful.  We’re afraid to take risks.  We know we can’t fly.

Somewhere in the recesses of our minds we wistfully long for those long-gone childhood days.  Isn’t it marvelous that Jesus is calling us to do exactly that - to become children once more?  To trust Him without reservation, to throw our arms around His neck anytime of the day or night and lavish our attention on Him “just because”.  He can handle the temper-tantrums, the disappointments and problems of this world, and calm every fearful heart.  He is big enough to provide for every need, and lavishes His favor on the one who will just come and humbly be His child.  There is nothing that delights His heart more.  Remember, Jesus was to be the first of “many brothers“.

And unlike our earthly childhood, Jesus has called us to a heavenly childhood that is full of love, joy, and peace.  He keeps His promises, and is faithful to the uttermost to those who are His.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-39

I am the unfortunate owner of two houses.  One is called “Flesh”, and the other is called “Spirit”.  And I get to choose daily where I’ll lay my head.

The Lord gave me a vision of the first house months ago.  It was a one room home, full of light from an open window, full of peace, goodness and life.  Full of all the things that would help me to be the person God created me to be.  It’s construction reminded me of a Jewish home with plastered walls, neatly kept and simple.  There was a jar there He told me was full of “joy and gladness”.  There were other items as well, each significant in their own way, and vital to my growth in Him.  But as beautiful and joyful as this home is, it is still strangely unfamiliar to me in many ways.  I have visited many times, but don’t consider myself to have taken up permanent residence there. 

The second house was revealed to me in a dream.  It was a house I was well-familiar with, old, established, in terrible disrepair, full of darkness, brokenness, shattered dreams.  I had the desire to repair it to it’s former glory, but as I wandered from room to room to assess each area I realized that it was a task I could not undertake alone.  It was not a task anyone would want to take on.  There were piles of junk everywhere you looked.  Even the side porch had old appliances and junk just lying around from years of accumulation and neglect.  The flower beds were overgrown and full of weeds.  It was beyond depressing, but strongly familiar.  I had the desire to clean it up and fix everything, but knew it was beyond me to do so.  And it is.

Up until the past couple of days I never understood the connection between these two “houses”.  But Jesus in His infinite mercy has finally put the puzzle pieces in place for me.  I must admit, this is a hard lesson to learn.  I stand on the sidewalk outside these two homes, and I have to make a choice.  Do I run to the familiar yet dark house, or the unfamiliar yet full-of-life house?  You would think this decision would be a no-brainer, but how many times during the course of a day do we choose that which we are most familiar with?  It’s almost as if we have a default setting we fall back on during times of quick decisions or pressure.  The key in our hand fits easily into the first door because it’s been used so much.  The key to the new door needs to be accessed from my knees, and doesn’t come open as easily.  Pride opens the first door, humility opens the other.

There are trees in front of each home.  In the first yard is a magnificent tree.  It’s called the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  The second home has a tree also, though it doesn’t look much like a tree anymore.  It’s shaped like a cross - the Tree of Life.  In order to get in to the Home of the Spirit I have to stop at this tree first, for the key to the door hangs on it’s humble branches. 

Each home has very distinctive characteristics.  Some you will find uncomfortably familiar.  I’ll start with the House of Flesh.  In this home you’ll find a variety of unpleasant furnishings including:

immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, ill-temper, selfishness, divisions, factions, envy, drunkeness, carousing, conceit, provocation, stealing, greed, slander, adultery, obscenity, foolish talk, course joking, murder, falsehood, rage, and more (Gal. 5:16-26, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Eph. 5:3-7, Col. 3:5-11, Rev. 22:15). 

Though familiar, if I choose to dwell in the House of Flesh I open myself to deception, bondange, and eventually death.  Even visiting on occasion results in damage to relationships, and my heart can begin to harden to the things of God.  The stench of this home clings to me even after I’ve chosen to walk out the door.

Then there is the House of the Spirit.  The pathways surrounding this home all lead to peace.  Inside this home are furnishings and fixtures that will stand the test of time, and gain the approval of eternity.  You’ll find love here.  You’ll also find:

joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, gentleness, meekness, humility, purity, understanding, truthfulness, thanksgiving, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, righteousness and light (Gal. 5:16-26, 2 Cor. 6:6-7, Eph. 4:3, 5:4, Col. 3:12-17).

It is a home full of abundant life!  There are no shadows or darkness there.

Each day is full of crucial choices.  We often blow it and end up at the wrong address.  But Christ in His faithfulness sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us and get us back on the right path.  This is truly living in the Spirit - walking side-by-side and step-by-step in the right direction.  It is a process, and we will never suddenly arrive at our final destination on this side of Heaven.  But we don’t need to despair.  If we allow the Spirit to lead us back to the cross once more we’ll receive the grace and forgiveness (and the key!) we need to rest our heads in the right home.  And as we do this as a matter of habit, I believe we’ll find our hearts naturally turning down the path of peace to the House of the Spirit.  When faced with difficult situations and unbearable pressure we’ll have learned to cling to the Tree of Life.  We’ll have sat at the table prepared for us in the presence of our enemies, and our cups will overflow with joy (Psalm 23).  But most importantly, we will have learned how to listen for the voice of our Savior, seen for ourselves the look of love in His eyes, and gaze upon the magnificence of His Person.

You see, He’s the Bridegroom.  He’s prepared a place for us - this very House of the Spirit, and He’s waiting for us to make His House our “home”.  He doesn’t want a visitor - He wants a Bride!  This is the mission the Holy Spirit has been entrusted with - to bring us to that end.  Bride, it’s time to come out of everything familiar!  It’s time to board up the other house and declare it “CONDEMNED”.  We are seated with Christ in heavenly places, and it’s time we became familiar with His ways, and set our hearts on the things above (Eph. 2:6, Col. 3:1). 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of Life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

The weather is finally turning cooler, and the leaves are just beginning to turn.  Fall has finally arrived, but something different is attached to it this year…promises long forgotten, dreams long put away, hope long deferred springs back to life once more.  You’d expect this feeling at the approach of Spring.  But this year, as amazing as it has already been, is still bursting with life and color and promise and JOY.  Yes, this is the word I hear resounding in my spirit again and again. 

Earlier this year it was as if God reached down and uncorked all the promises and dreams in my life.  He’s restored my vision, prepared my heart to receive more of Him than I ever thought imaginable, and He gave me a new name.  He has opened His Word and poured it into my heart, and given me wisdom that could only come from His throne.  I’ve learned to die, I’ve learned to worship, I’ve learned to fly and I’ve learned to really live.  I’ve learned to love - passionately.  I’ve learned that mere moments in His Presence can erase a lifetime of regret.  And still I’m learning.  It is the grandest symphony of all - our lives entertwined with His.  But He is the One Who makes my life beautiful and meaningful and lovely.  He is the One worthy of all my praise and adoration.

This new season excites me.  As wonderful as this year has been so far, in my heart I know this is just the beginning.  The grand adventure is waiting before us - waiting for us to grab His hand and fly.  We are at a precipice.  Will we trust Him and jump?  Will we shrink back in fear?  He calls to us, woos us, embraces us.  Yes, you can fly - for He’s given you the wings. 

Boldly come to the throne of grace and ask Him what your part is for this new season.  Ask Him for a scripture to hold onto, to embrace and write upon the recesses of your heart.  Take it out, look at it, soak it in.  He has a promise specifically for you in this season.  He has plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future! (Jeremiah 29:11)  He doesn’t know how to give bad gifts you know.

The most important thing I have learned so far this year is concerning passion.  I believe the church as a whole has done a fine job of squelching anything remotely passionate in our relationship with God, because in the past there was so much abuse.  God is calling His Church to passionately love Him.  Do you think He is coming back for a Bride who turns her head and focuses her attention on other things when He appears?  He wants to be front and center in our thoughts, our wills, and our emotions.  He wants a Bride who knows how to lean on her Beloved (Song of Songs 8:5)…a Bride that has eyes only for Him.  In my quiet time one morning He spoke these words to me:

“A life without passion is a slow death indeed.”

How painfully true.  Our misplaced passion on the things of the world slowly kill us.  Like a hot coal pulled away from the fire, we find our flame slowly cooling - slowly dying.  If you have found that you have lost the white-hot passion of your “first love” then it is time to turn around and find Him once more (see Revelation 2:1-7).  He is calling for a people that is single-minded in their devotion to the King of Kings.  It is only as the world sees us “burning” that they are drawn to our Beloved once more.

Emanna