Be as a Child

There's something about the quality of a child that God wants us to retain. In Jesus' first meeting with the disciples, after the resurrection, He called them, "children" He looks upon us as such and wants us to be such.

Matthew 18:4 says, "Therefore, whoever [a]humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

In the early stages of childhood, one is free from pride or high self-estimation. The child is ever aware of his limitations and incapabilities. Christ puts great value on humility. In humility, we see all that He is and all that we are not. In humility, we focus on all we need to be not all that we are.(morphiuus)

Psalm 131 says: "Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child [resting] with his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me [composed and freed from discontent]. O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever."

Many things happen after a child has just finished being nursed by his mother. He feels satisfied, content. As he lay on his mother's chest, there is absolute trust, because from experience, he knows mother provides, she satisfies. There are no doubts; only stillness, because from experience, he knows that mom will make a move, she will act as she sees fit, when she sees fit. Babies do not question, they declare a need and trustingly await the response.

Luke 10:21 says: "In that very hour He was overjoyed and rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and He said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things [relating to salvation] from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants [the childlike and untaught]. Yes, Father, for this way was[Your gracious will and choice, and was] well-pleasing in Your sight."

As a person matures, experiencing the ups and downs of Christian living, he gleans wisdom, he learns to be cautious. This can go both ways, positive and negative. When it comes to the world around us, Christ instructed us to be wise and prudent. Sometimes, in God's dealings with us, we carry that mindset. At times, we act like we know more than He does and we Hesitate to trust His ways.

A child is ready to be taught, he doesn't resist. When it comes to God, He is a willing learner, he doesn't feel the need to be cautious.

Hebrews 12:28 says: "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe;"

Think back to the day you first realized what it means to be saved. You felt privileged, fortunate; you can hardly grasp the greatness of that gift and your unworthiness to receive it. Years pass, you get used to being blessed as a Christian, you begin to require God's blessings and favorable answers to prayer as part of your inheritance. When things get rough, when you face failure and disappointments, feelings of frustration and resentment at times set in. Things have changed, at least, you have...

God hasn't though. He is the same as He was when He rescued you. He is as great and generous now as He was then, when you first met Him. God desires that old attitude from us, He deserves nothing less than our gratefulness. And grasping the greatness of His Person, the natural response is to worship in awe.