Life Lessons From 25 New Testament CharactersShembull

Like a Child

Children are simple in their beliefs, and Jesus loves this innocent, pure trust. But “in the real world,” no one aspires to be like a child in any way as they grow older. We are supposed to mature past the ways of being kids, aren’t we? To be a ”like a child“ is usually not a compliment but a put-down. Yet, Jesus, in Matthew 19, honors the children (and their parents) who came in simple faith to receive the blessings and prayers of Jesus. On the other hand, His disciples scolded them, and, in turn, Jesus taught them the value of being like a child. His kingdom is only received by those who are like children humbly coming in simple faith to the feet of Jesus for their every need. And we learn that Jesus wants us to come to Him with all His heart! So, do you approach God like a child?

THINK and PRAY

How do you approach God?

As weird as it may sound, it can be extremely hard for us to come to God with a “child-like” approach. We may not want to go to God because we feel we are too messed up and have no ticket to His table. Or maybe we want to earn His respect and love by our own efforts, and so, instead of coming with open, child-like hands to receive, we ask what we must do to earn His love and be a part of His family. God shows us in this story that we bring nothing to the table and can't earn His love and His kingdom, just like those small, vulnerable children. This is the total opposite of what our world teaches: “You better earn your place!" In this simple, little story, we find a big, eternal truth. God gives His Kingdom to those who lower themselves and admit they are children in need, not to those who pridefully try to earn God’s favor. So let the children (not the self-sufficient adults) come to Him!