Barnabas File

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14, NIV)   We often sing “Jesus loves me, this I know” and “Jesus loves the little children” to our grandchildren.  This is a rudimentary form of Christian nurture planting the core idea that a simple, childlike faith is basic to one’s spiritual formation.  Children are open, eager to learn, and hopefully raised in an environment of trust and love that encourages a healthy faith.  However, as a child grows, the challenge is to build upon that simple, childlike faith.   In our lives, we experience events, people, and circumstances that provide the incentive for growth in our faith.  Although we don’t always seize those opportunities, they are there, nonetheless.  We can only benefit from them if we not only experience them but see them through the eyes of a faith that seeks to grow. ...