Faith like a Child
Updated: Aug 10
Matthew 18:3 says, "And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
The Importance of Visual Art in Worship
What does this verse even mean? Do I have to defy the laws of time and become a child again to get into heaven? Or do I need to be immature and throw tantrums now and then? Fortunately, neither.
To first understand this verse, we need to look at the context. In chapter 18 of Matthew, the disciples ask Jesus, “Who is the greatest in heaven?” And you know what He does? He pulls a child to the center and says that we all need to be like children.
It is important to realize that during this time period, children were often viewed as lowly and inconvenient. Yet Jesus says they are the greatest in heaven. Why?
Well, as children, we aren't 'convenient'. That is because we are rather dependent on everyone. We need to be fed, clothed, protected, and loved. When Jesus says we need to be like children, He isn't necessarily saying that we need to be innocent or naive. Instead, He is telling us to be completely dependent on Him.
As we grow older, we learn to do things on our own and, for some of us, we may even take pride in doing so. It's strange to say, as adults [or maybe even as teenagers], that we need someone. But we do.
In John 15:5, Jesus directly states, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” We need Jesus just as much as we need oxygen to breathe, food to eat, or water to drink.
Don’t think you do? In John 6:35, the Bible says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Again, we are back to the question: What does this mean? I eat food whether or not I read my Bible every day. Jesus isn't talking about physically being hungry or thirsty, but spiritually. Our souls are starving and thirsty without Jesus. We get this deep hole within us that no one and nothing can truly fill other than our Lord in heaven.
And this is actually amazing news for us.
We often try to do things on our own. We make our own plans and think we know what's best. But how often does that actually end up working out?
As Christians, we don't have to do anything alone. We have a loving Creator who wants what's best for us. So whenever you think you can carry the weight of the world on your own, remember that Jesus first carried the cross with the weight of your sin.
You need Him just as much now as you needed Him when He gave you grace and forgiveness on that day.
Verses:
James 4:6 - "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."
John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Mark 10: 15 - "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Prayer:
"Dear God, thank You for caring for us the way a parent cares for a child. We know that we are incapable of truly living without You. I pray that You never let us forget that we need You on our best days just as much as we need You on our worst. Open our eyes to see our struggles not only as hardships, but as opportunities to rely on You. Open our hearts to let You in and to surrender everything to You, Lord. You are the only source of true fullness in life. I pray that our souls would hunger and thirst for You rather than for the worldly things around us. Help us to remember that, just as a child depends on their parent, we can depend completely on You. Thank You for always being there for us, for loving us, and for carrying what we cannot carry on our own. In Jesus' name we pray,
-amen."
Comments