Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Much can be said about this saying but I am going to avoid all of them. I want to speak about little children and the order in growth. Which comes first to little children, speech, walking, or understanding?

While my first grandchild was very young and could not walk or talk, I discovered she was signing to the waitress at the restaurant as a deaf person would. My daughter taught her sign language as a form of communication because she understood and would get frustrated when she could not make herself known verbally.

Children understand in ways they cannot communicate as they would like because they have not matured enough in the area of speech. It is no different with being a little child in Christ. There is an understanding by faith which they have not yet learned to express in ways that they would like. This is complicated by a mind that is fully developed and trained in how to communicate in a language that is not of faith.

As my daughter did for my granddaughter, we should help new Christians develop communication skills that avoid frustration. Do not be critical of a new Christian’s inability to express themselves clearly. Walking by faith is not as easily learned as walking on two feet. Do not expect too much and be patient with them.

If you are a new Christian, be patient with yourself. Small growth is better than falling because you are getting ahead of yourself. Do not think less of yourself if it seems others are learning faster.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

When my youngest daughter was born I held her in my arms while my wife recovered from c-section surgery. A nurse came in, looked at us and remarked about how comfortable and content my daughter was in my arms.

Was this love? On my part yes. I loved her before she came into the family. On her part, we will never know but her contentment was enough for me.

When we come to Christ by faith we have a deeper appreciation for what God did to welcome us into His family. Because we are older and more understanding of what that sacrifice meant, we tend to think in terms of indebtedness. Being born in the spirit should not be saddled with the burden of debt. My daughter didn’t owe me anything and I didn’t expect anything of her in those first moments of life.

Neither does God expect anything of you in new birth. You have only just entered into the family of God by faith. As an illustration of faith allow me to point to Abraham, the father of faith for three major religions.

Romans 4:2-4 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Abraham heard God and believed God but had not yet obeyed God and still he was justified by faith and righteousness was accounted to him. Your right standing before God, righteousness, has nothing to do with what you have done or can do but because God loves you.