Text- Matthew 18:3- "And said, Truly I say to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Today’s text is a direct statement made by Jesus Christ Himself. Here, the Lord points our attention to little children as kingdom models, after whom we must pattern our lives. Essentially, Christlikeness is Childlikeness.
Some noteworthy attributes of Children which make them good kingdom models are highlighted below. Note however, that Childlikeness is different from childishness, in the same way gentleness is different from stupidity.
1. Humility
This is perhaps the most glaring, because after Jesus said He expects us to be as little children, he immediately said, “Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4).
John Gill’s commentary on Matthew 18:4 reads thus: Whoever shall – entertain mean thoughts of himself, and prefer others to himself, shall behave in a modest humble manner, not affecting dominion over others, or treating his brethren and Christians in a haughty and supercilious manner, with scorn and contempt; but condescend to those of the lowest state, and place himself in the lowest form, conversing with his friends freely and familiarly, without distinction – as a little child.
Humility is different from humiliation; the former is childlike while the latter is childish. Humility gives a person their dignity back while they consciously take a low position, whereas humiliation takes it away a person’s dignity and forcefully relegates them.
2. Innocence
Children are very innocent! Their heart is so pure and undefiled by the mundane things of this world; this is how Christ wants us to be… pure and unspotted in this world.
Paul describes this in Philippians 2: 15- “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”
I particularly like how The Message Bible renders this verse. It is says, “Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.”
Again, being innocent is not the same as being ignorant. While ignorance refers to deficiency in knowledge, innocence is lack of ability to cause harm. An adult that lives in ignorance is being childish, but one that becomes innocent is childlike.
There are still some few more attributes of Childlikeness; we will discuss them in subsequent days. But as you go out today, be as humble and as innocent as a little child – Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society.
PRAYERS
1. Lord, please help me to be childlike in humility in Jesus Name.
2. Lord, as I go about my daily activities, help me to be become blameless, harmless, and without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.
3. Father, help me to be childlike in innocence. Let my heart be sprinkled clean from an evil conscience in Jesus’ Name.
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