Like A Child

Like A Child

Reading: 1 Chronicles 14-15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18 1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.” (Matthew 18:1-5 NLT) The scholar and religious leader Nicodemus came to Jesus looking for knowledge and insight about God’s kingdom. Jesus said, “Simply become a kid again! Be born of God’s Spirit and you’re in!” James and John asked Jesus for the number two and number three positions in God’s kingdom. They didn’t want Peter to get ahead of them. Jesus said, “It’s simple, just serve others. The more you serve, the greater you’ll be. Simply serve.” Now they want to know who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom. Jesus called a little child to him. (Did you notice that children were often present in the Jesus story?) Jesus called a child to him and said, “Become like this child. Stop striving. Stop competing. Stop comparing. Stop trying to figure everything out. Stop trying to earn a high position. Stop deciding who’s in and who’s out.”

Is this what Jesus was trying to get across to his closest followers?
1) Become God’s little child. Be born of the Spirit. That’s it. You’re in.
2) Stay simple. Take life as it comes. Live in the moment. Laugh and cry. Be you.
3) Don’t worry. Don’t try to figure everything out ahead of time.
4) Be open to wonder. See and delight in the wonders of the world around you.
5) Trust. Trust God. Trust those of child-like faith. Trust the trust-worthy. I think this is the point. How about you? Are you ready for childhood? Prayer: Father, I want to simply be “Abba’s Child.” Back to square one, keeping it simple. Trusting instead of trying. Being instead of doing. Living in the present instead of in the past or future. I need some help with this. The whole world keeps trying to pull me toward complexity, comparisons, and competition. I choose child-likeness. Amen.