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.”
For some days now, we have been discussing on how to be like a little child. Like I mentioned in the previous days, Christlikeness is basically Childlikeness. That was why Jesus points our attention to little children as kingdom models, after whom we must pattern our lives.
We have talked about some few noteworthy attributes of Children which make them good kingdom models: Humility, Innocence, Trust, Forgiveness and Teachableness. I’ll round off this topic today with two more childlike attributes that we must imbibe as Christians:
6. Openness
Ephesians 4:25- “Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another”
Children are frankly open – totally honest and completely sincere – no pretense, no deceit; nothing hidden! Jesus wants us to be childlike by being completely honest with Him, and with people around us.
Lamentations 2:19 says, “Arise, cry out… Pour out your heart like water before the Lord's presence…”The Lord wants us to open up to him about our thoughts, our feelings, our weaknesses, our mistakes, our frustrations etc. He wants us to tell it all to him – our deepest desires, our gravest fears, our grievances, distresses and complaints… Everything!
7. Carefreeness
Matthew 6: 25-33 says it all on this; Jesus Himself painted for us a vivid picture of a childlike life; free of cares, anxieties and worries: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
PRAYERS
1. Father, I ask that you help me to be childlike in openness, sincerity and honesty in Jesus Name.
2. Lord I desire to live a life free of care and worries. Help me to calmly approach each day; being careful for nothing, but giving thanks in all things.
3. Lord, evermore please increase my faith!