Come as Little Children

Today's Reading: Matthew 18:1-5

I am drawn to babies; it’s not hard to understand why. They are innocent and pure, dependent on others for their life. There is no jealously, ambition, or arrogance within them. We teach them that pretty quickly. In Matthew 18:1-5 we are given a picture of the disciples need for ambition and competition. 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (NIV)

Jesus is insistent that change is necessary for us to be called his own. He also implies that change means being converted back to approaching life as a child; dependent for everything.

I don’t like being dependent for anything. It feels unnatural and certainly un-American, yet dependence on God is a theme throughout his redemption story. He has everything we need.  This is so evident in the story of the Wilderness wandering and how God sent the daily supply of manna. Yet, dependent as a child is what God is looking for. This is about our hearts and not about appearances. God’s kingdom is not about ranking, money or power. His kingdom is about humility and change that comes from knowing who he is, how much he loves us, and who I am as his child. In order to be in the Lord’s kingdom, I must change: stop trying to be better than others, come face to face with my dependence on God’s provision, be open about my spiritual needs, and learn to listen and learn. Being like a child means living with no fear of what is coming next.

How do we change like this? It is not on our own power but with God’s power and in our own humility. Humility is about living in the truth; not covered with masks. It is about living in service to others. People will notice us not for our status or wealth, but for our service and our love for truth.

- Sandy Welfare