Before we begin, take a second to look at the child in the picture. What is he like? What dwells deep within him that cannot be seen?
Well, we cannot know by simply looking at his appearance. He is certainly cute, but surely we have learned by now that appearances can fool us, haven't we? We ought not judge the inside solely based upon what we see from the outside.
So, if we can't tell what is in the heart by a superficial observation, how can we tell? Or, can we?
Folks, if we will believe and do according to the words in James 1:25, "the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing", we will be greatly helped in this.
In the verses prior to this one (James 1:22-25), James explains that there are people who claim to be following God, yet they do not operate based upon His Word, they merely "hear" it in a superficial way. According to verses 23-24, though they are face-to-face with the diagnosis they need, they will not consider it deeply enough to embrace it. They refuse to "look into" and to "do" the "perfect law", therefore, they forfeit the "blessings" and "liberty" that are found in doing so.
At this point you may be asking yourself "What does this have to do with the heart of a child?". I'm getting to that.
See, if we are willing to "look into" Scripture as James commands, we will know what is in the heart of the little boy. How? Because God's Word tells us. If you claim to believe that God's Word is sufficient for you, then prove it. II Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence".
If you do not believe that God's Word reveals a knowledge of Jesus through which is contained everything needed to diagnose the heart of a man (or a child), then you do not truly believe in the sufficiency of God's Word!
According to the sufficient Word of God, here is the little boy's 'heart' diagnosis - "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child". If you trust in God's Word, you will be convinced that one of the main characteristics of a little one's heart is 'folly'. Sometimes it is difficult to see because it is hidden beneath all of those layers of cuteness! But it is there, and far more than you are probably ready to admit.
The good news is, since God has given you authority in the life of the little one, you can help to rid him of his folly before it is too late to help him. How? Again, we go to God's sufficient Word, "But the rod of discipline drives it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15). Folly is driven away through discipline. What is discipline? It is training...DISCIPLING. The boy needs to be discipled!
Here we have both God's diagnosis and prescription for the little boy. Do you believe Him?
My plea to you today is to wholly commit your way to trusting in the sufficiency of His Word. It will not be easy. Ask for His help.
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25)
Pastor Jeremy
