Like Unto the Flesh of a Little Child.
Through Jesus, we can experience spiritual renewal, becoming childlike in our qualities and being clothed in the beauty of the Lord.
F.B. Meyer reflects on the beauty and purity of a child's flesh, contrasting it with the leprous state of our souls. He emphasizes that through Jesus, we can experience not just forgiveness but a complete cleansing, returning to a state of youthful purity. Meyer highlights the importance of childlike qualities such as humility, unselfishness, trust, and love, which Jesus imparts to us. He distinguishes between childishness, which we must outgrow, and childlikeness, which we should aspire to as we grow in Christ. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to embrace these childlike attributes to reflect the nature of Christ.
Text
Like unto the flesh of a little child. 2 Kings v. 14.
IS there any fabric woven on the loom of time to be compared in perfect beauty to the flesh of a little child, on which, as yet, no scar or blemish can be traced? So sweet, so pure, so clean. It was a wonderful combination, that the strong muscles and make of the mighty man of war should blend with the flesh of a child. But this may be ours also, if we will let the hand of Jesus pass over our leprous‑smitten souls. At this moment, if you let Hin, He will touch you and say, "Be clean," and immediately the leprosy will depart, and you will return to the days of your youth ‑‑ not forgiven only, but cleansed; not pardoned only, but clad in the beauty of the Lord your God, which He will put on you.
We do not count a little child to be free from the taint of sin. It is conceived in sin, and inherits the evil tendencies of our fallen race. Its innocence of evil is not holiness. Jesus gives us more than innocence, He makes us pure and holy. But there are other childlike qualities which our Saviour gives. The humility of a little child, who is unconscious of itself, and who is not perpetually looking for admiration. The unselfishness of a little child, who seeks its companion to share its luxuries and games. The trust of a little child, which so naturally clings to a strong and loving heart, willing to follow anywhere, to believe in anything. The love of a little child, who responds to every endearment with sunny laughter and soft caresses.
There is a great difference between childish and childlike. The former is put away, as we grow up into Christ: the latter we grow into, as we become more like our Lord. The oldest angels are the youngest: the ripest saints are the most childlike.
Sermon Outline
- The Beauty of a Little Child
- The Possibility of Spiritual Renewal
- The Childlike Qualities of a Christian
- The Difference Between Childish and Childlike
- Childish Qualities Are Put Away
- Childlike Qualities Are Grown Into
- Trust and Love
Key Quotes
“At this moment, if you let Him, He will touch you and say, 'Be clean,' and immediately the leprosy will depart, and you will return to the days of your youth -- not forgiven only, but cleansed; not pardoned only, but clad in the beauty of the Lord your God, which He will put on you.” — F.B. Meyer
“The oldest angels are the youngest: the ripest saints are the most childlike.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We can experience spiritual renewal by letting Jesus' hand pass over our souls and touch us.
- As we grow into Christ, we should put away childish qualities and grow into childlike qualities such as humility, unselfishness, trust, and love.
- The more we become like our Lord, the more childlike we will be, and the more we will reflect His beauty.