Child-like Imagination
"'I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom.'"
– Jesus (Matt. 18:3, MSG)
This past weekend, I spent time with my two and three-year-old nieces. Their grandma gave them a new tea set, so we drank a lot of "tea" and had lots of conversations over plastic pieces of cake. It was so much fun seeing their imaginations at work.
But it got me to thinking about our own imaginations and what Jesus said about becoming like children.
We have to learn to think differently.
And, in some ways, we have to unlearn so we might think more imaginatively.
Are you still trying to cram your "faith paradigm" into the old way of living? Or are you allowing yourself to see it through new eyes – imaginative eyes – in the reality we now live?
Jesus said we won't even glimpse the kingdom unless we return to square one and start over like children.
It's hard to make sense of the world around us right now, but like with my nieces when they look at their tea set, maybe it's time to close your eyes, reopen them, and then allow yourself to see what you couldn't see before.
Maybe it's time to use your imagination again.
Perhaps then you'll get a glimpse of the kingdom.
Exercise
Carve out 15 minutes of your day for this simple exercise. You’ll need a journal, pen, and somewhere you won’t be distracted (it might even help to pause notifications on your phone).
Think back to one year ago. And ask yourself:
What did I believe about God?
What did I believe about the role of the church?
What did I think about prayer?
What did I think about “ministry”?
Reflect on where you are now. Ask yourself:
How has my belief about God changed?
What role do I believe the church is playing in today’s world?
What do I feel about praying?
What ways has ministry changed?
Now use your imagination. Think 3 years into the future and ask:
What are my beliefs about God? How have they evolved?
What is the role of the church in the world? How am I playing a part?
What is my prayer life like?
What does ministry look like in 2023?
Take some time and journal your answers to these questions. REALLY THINK ABOUT THEM! I just bet it will help you use your imagination in new ways and to begin seeing the world differently…
Matt Snyder is the Digital Media Manager and Consultant at First Baptist Church of Decatur. He is also a freelance copywriter and content creator at Copywriter Creative. You can learn more about his work and follow him on LinkedIn or on Twitter at @matthewlasnyder.