Simplicity

The Roman world could be a confusing place. It was a place of many gods and religious ideas. There were competing cultures and a clash of personalities.

A recent study concluded that there were “a bewildering mass of alternatives.” There were “too many cults, too many mysteries, too many philosophies of life to choose from: you could pile one religious insurance on another, yet not feel safe.” It was reported that one man simultaneously served as a priest in four temples.” At the same time, “many temples served many gods simultaneously.”

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the religious leaders seemed to revel in this kind of complexity, making it difficult for people to believe. Jesus said these leaders “crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden” (Matthew 23:4, NLT).

For Jesus, children became important symbols. When the disciples asked who was “greatest in the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus set a child before them, and said, “Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-3).

The early church also stressed the same simplicity. Paul declared, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Act 16:31). He wrote, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). He also warned that we can be “corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Today, don’t forget the simplicity of our faith. Childlike faith is key if you want to receive answers to your prayers and see God’s power unleashed in your life. Don’t be paralyzed by doubt. Trust in God. Believe His Word. Have faith.