Children can be a blessing, a burden, a joy, and a challenge all at the same time. Children can be innocent, open, and loving. They can be cruel, immature, and thoughtless. When Jesus says that we must "receive the kingdom of God as little children or we will never enter it," which qualities of a child does he have in mind? I have often contemplated what this passage might mean, but I cannot claim to know what the answer is.

As I write this today, my best attempt to understand Jesus' command is the childlike quality of "longing to be loved" and accepting comfort and security. As we grow and mature, at least in progression of age if not in emotion and behavior, the qualities we develop are to take on responsibility and attempt to control our interactions with life's circumstances and those around us. But in these verses, all the children seek is to be close to Jesus. They long to be near him. And perhaps it is as simple as that.

If we compare these two stages of life, what is it we most value in children that we are not finding in adults? Being open to what is happening around us and loving in the moment, finding joy, sharing in sadness, helping without feeling put out, and simply being are qualities I admire in children. They do not feel the need to control and shape. They simply are. When I see a child's face light up in wonder, run into a mother's arms, or invite another to share in an experience, this is when I feel close to the kingdom of God. As each moment of the day passes, perhaps I should look not to control but simply to stand in wonder, feel the embrace of the Spirit, and share in the experience of those around me with love. In fact, if we live every moment simply remembering that everyone longs to be loved, aren't we standing next to God?

Let us pray together, Lord, may we find peace and comfort in the arms of the Spirit. May your embrace allow us to embrace each moment guided by your Spirit. May we be blessed in your arms and not be the one standing indignant shouting that the business of the day is being interrupted. Please bring us greater understanding that it is your will, your love, and your grace that allows us to see each moment clearly. Give us the insight to share your will, your love, and your grace with all those we encounter, Amen.

This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Commitment.

The word commitment has been on my mind lately. What does it mean to be committed? What are we committed to — ourselves, our work, our family? What about our religion? Are we a committed Christian?

This is what the Word says in Jeremiah 7:23:

How do we become a committed Christian?

First of all, a committed Christian will put God first and make him the Lord of his life. He will study the Word and listen for God's voice. He will attend worship services. He will serve wherever he can. He will tithe his resources — everything belongs to God, and we are just giving back to him what he owns anyway. He will also be a recruiter for Jesus.

A committed Christian will have the conviction that Jesus is the way — the only way.

As we begin this year, let's strive to be a committed Christian every day.

John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

Oh, Heavenly Father, may I be so close to you every day that I hear your voice and obey. Amen.

This devotion was written and read by Ralphine Hood.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Honestly, this is my favorite prayer in the Bible. Not because it's the most eloquent, or the most theologically precise. Because it's the most true.

"I believe; help my unbelief."

Seven words that hold the whole complicated reality of what faith actually feels like from the inside — at least for me. Not the version we think we're supposed to have. The real thing. The version that shows up at two in the morning when the problem is real, and the prayer I've been praying for years still hasn't been answered.

I believe. And also — I'm not sure. Both things, at the same time, in the same breath.

This father has been watching his son suffer since childhood. Seizures. Falls into fire, into water. Years of this. He came to Jesus's disciples first, and they couldn't help. So by the time Jesus arrives, this man's faith has been through things that would test anyone's. When he says "if you can do anything," that if is doing a lot of work. It's not the language of someone standing on solid ground. It's the language of someone who has hoped before and learned to be careful about hoping.

And Jesus doesn't rebuke him for the if. Doesn't send him away to shore up his faith before coming back. He heals the boy.

What gets me about this story is that the man's prayer is essentially an admission of failure. By every standard of confident, mountain-moving faith, he's falling short. He knows it. He says so out loud, right there in front of Jesus.

And that turns out to be exactly the right thing to say.

I think about all the times I've stayed quiet in prayer because I didn't feel certain enough. All the times I've dressed up my doubts in more acceptable language because I was afraid that bringing my actual faith — small and mixed and honest as it is — wouldn't be enough. As if Jesus needed me to perform certainty before he could work.

This father didn't perform anything. He just told the truth.

Maybe that's what faith actually looks like most of the time. Not a feeling of absolute certainty. Not the absence of doubt. Just the honesty to say out loud what's actually true — I believe this, but I'm not sure I believe it enough. And somehow, in this story, that admission is the very thing Jesus works with.

Jesus doesn't fill up the father's faith like a tank running low. He responds to the father's honesty. That's a different kind of grace entirely — one that meets us in our transparency rather than waiting for our certainty.

And that prayer has never been turned away. Ever.

Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. We don't bring you our certainty — we rarely have enough. We bring you the truth about where we actually are. Meet us there. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.