Childlike

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-4, ESV)

Jesus loved children, and children loved Him as well. It was a familiar sight to see them gather as close to Him as possible. This was sometimes to the dismay of the disciples who tried to keep them away. But not the Lord. He told the disciples, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14, NKJV). Jesus loved having these little ones near Him and even used them to teach the adults some needed lessons.

Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant when He told us we must become like little children?

First, let’s distinguish between the words childish and childlike. When someone is being childish, they are often acting in a silly, irresponsible, or immature way. If we call someone childish, it usually has a negative undertone. To be childlike, however, implies qualities of trust, purity, or innocence. The Lord desires us to be like a little child, not childish.

Here are a few of the characteristics we may observe in little children.

Children have simple faith. They are not equipped to make it on their own in this world, but they do not worry about what tomorrow might bring. They trust their parents to provide food, shelter, clothing, and other essentials. Children feel secure and trust that their parents will be there for them. How much more should we trust our Heavenly Father for our needs! Luke 12:29 reminds us, “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind” (NKJV). God is our provider and protector.

Children are humble. They do not contend for power or position. In Matthew 18:1-4 we find the disciples of Jesus arguing among themselves over who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. When they asked the Lord, they probably did not expect the answer He gave. “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” A little child does not display  pride or conceit. Nor should the child of God.

Children are imitators. Have you ever watched a little boy trying to walk like his dad? Or a little girl mimicking the actions of her mother? Children learn what they see. Ephesians 5:1 tells us, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children” (NKJV). If God is our Father, then we should strive to be more like Him, to imitate Him, every day.

Children are teachable. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.” The things we learn while we are young stay with us. When Paul wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy, he admonished him to hold onto the things he learned as a child. “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:14-15, NKJV).

The Lord desires us to demonstrate the same faith, humility, and teachable spirit as a young child. This is true greatness with eternal values.

Devotion by Mary Loudermilk