Become like children: Become like children

0:00Thanks for tuning in to Manna, a short daily meditation to feed hungry souls with God's Word. These episodes were prepared by our day ministers for a radio broadcast called Voice of the Church and are now republished by the Reform Perspective Foundation, a Canadian charity that applies biblical truth to the issues of our time, here's today serving. Hello dear listeners, I'm the King of the Castle, but you're a... And that's not just a young children's boast, for not a few adults are heard to exclaim with equal determination, I am the greatest. That's certainly so at this time of the year when many sports teams are vying for a regional or a national championship. When they do, they lay claim to the crown and they shout, we are the greatest. Rather foolish, such boasting, isn't it? Only think of the fact that championships appear to be short lived as the team that reaches

1:03the top of the ladder may be found at its bottom the next year. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, he called a group of twelve followers to be his disciples. However, it appears that some of them thought this close association with the Master made them deserving of special consideration above other folks. One day they approached Jesus with this question, it's recorded in Matthew 18, verse 1, which of us will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus answered them with an example taken from ordinary life. As he saw a young child standing nearby, he said to the youngster, come right over here. And then he took the boy by the hand and led him right into the middle of the group. He said to them, truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

2:04Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. It's been almost four decades since the international year of the child was announced with a lot of fanfare in New York City. That doesn't mean, however, that things have changed the great deal for children the world over since 1979. Many not only still live in poverty, but millions are not even allowed to see the light of day. The Lord Jesus Christ considered every year to be the year of the child and every day as well. He implied as much when he said, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. What was it about children that Jesus lauded and approved of? Surely it was children's simplicity, their frankness, their unpretentiousness, and especially

3:08their humility. That's what Jesus was thinking of. Sure, there are many children who can't lay claim to these admirable qualities, but then they just might be imitating the bad attitudes of their parents. Yet the expectations and attitudes of very young children can be refreshing indeed. Just think of their wide-eyed amazement at receiving a birthday or a Christmas gift. The fact is that childlike humility and thankfulness are positive and attractive attitudes. Children are often most eager to learn. Were they involved in some spat, some conflict? More often than not, they're quick to forgive and make up. They have a great capacity to love and to be loved. Yet that basic virtue of humility stands out among them. Yes, children like adults can also be vain and selfish.

4:11In this they often just imitate those who should be exemplary role models, but who instead drag children's attitudes down into the gutter with them. Besides of themselves, in their human nature, children too are tainted with sin, and that too can show at an early age already. Pride can take hold of them and so can selfishness and greed. They need to be corrected, directed, directed to Jesus and to the forgiveness of their sins. Jesus however was speaking about children as they generally present themselves. They will often humbly acknowledge that there are adults and others they need to look up to. God's grown-up children have to come to that same recognition. Jesus owned disciples had to learn this. It appears that they had a difficult time realizing the importance of humility.

5:13Walking along the way with Jesus, they had been discussing their place in the pecking order as it were. They were vying for what they considered their rightful rank and station. It's clear from a parallel account in Luke 9. That's why they asked Jesus, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus knew their hearts. So we taught them this lesson in humility. Oh, it must have been a rather difficult bill for these grown men to swallow when Jesus told them that unless they turn and become like children, they would never enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus then went on to stress this essential character quality of humility. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The turn which Jesus required is in the Bible the same as the act of repentance.

6:14It is a fundamental break with going in the wrong direction and so walking and running in the right direction. Children need to trust their parents to do what is best for them. They will cling to such parents in loving surrender and follow their lead. In such parents have the total welfare, the safety and happiness of their children in mind and in heart. Children of God, no matter how young or how old, trust their Heavenly Father, knowing he will provide. They trust his Word and they do not rebel. They do not doubt his sincerity. They realize the world they live in is full of pitfalls and temptations. Do they sometimes and even frequently lose sight of the Father's goodness? Are they tempted to forsake his guidance and the safety of his hand? They need to know and remember his forgiving grace.

7:15To trust that he sent his one and only son to die for them on Calvary's cross. And that simply means they need to have faith, genuine faith. Such faith that when they are confronted with the demands of the evil one to throw in their lot with them, they will reject those demands. When there is that child of this world and of their own human nature to dislodge their life from the care of Jesus Christ, they will stand firm in the strength of the Lord. Your listeners becoming like children is a lifelong adventure, one that is filled with hope and hopefully with joy. Oh yes, along the way there will be trials and temptations. They were there even for those who had spent three years in close association with Jesus Christ. With Christ at one side and with the Holy Spirit always ready to show the way, humble

8:19followers of Jesus can be more than conquerors as we read in Romans 837. The Apostle Paul, who at one time had breathed fire and slaughter as he persecuted Christians, had his life turned around. And later he was able to say, I think of what we read in Philippians 314, forgetting what lies behind, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ. No, he didn't say he determined to do this in his own strength. He admitted he pressed on because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Children of God rescued from the darkness of sin and death, from the clutches of the devil, are privileged indeed. When they are gifted with humility and reverence, bowing as they seek the presence of God in prayer

9:19each day, they will realize their purpose and calling. Jesus told those same disciples who had been so busy with carving out their assumed status in pride and selfishness, something else. And what follows in Matthew 18 verses 5 and 6, Jesus told them their task in protecting children rather than causing them to go astray. Should someone cause one of those little ones to sin, Jesus said, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fashioned around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Such a millstone was heavy, made of stone, it was used to grind grain into flour. The top stone of the two commonly used had a hole in it through which the grain to be ground was poured. Oh, if Jesus's warning would only be taken to heart today, also in our society where

10:25children are often abandoned to the spirits of the age, under the pretext of they have to make up their own minds. May we all become like children in genuine humility bowing before Jesus Christ, having our lives, our loves shaped, directed by His Word. He humbled Himself all the way to the cross so that we might follow Him. Amen. And thanks so much for listening.