Come Little Children

Childish versus Child-like

            The bible tells us that, in order to get into heaven, we must be like little children.  (Matthew 18:1-4)  Children have qualities that the Lord wishes we displayed as adults.  You see we may be grown up, but we are still God’s children.  What is the difference between being childish and child-like?  I have to say, most of the time, I am childish.  Seldom, do I display true child-like qualities when it comes to my walk with God.  That is why He is speaking it to me now.  Just like I am missing it, others are too. 

Childish                                                                                                                       Child-Like

Immature                                                                                                        Naturally Trusting

Devious                                                                                                           Open and Honest

Silly                                                                                                                  Thankful

Petty                                                                                                                Don’t Worry

Selfish                                                                                                              Humble

Self-serving                                                                                                     Dependent

            There are many other ways that you can be both childish and child-like.  I only listed a few.  The purpose of this entry is to focus on the qualities of being child-like in God’s Kingdom.  As you can see, at the top of the list is “Naturally Trusting.”  When I was a child, if my mother told me that she was going to do something I believed her.  I trusted her to make sure I had a roof over my head, food in my stomach and clothes on my back.  I depended on her for everything.  At that age, I didn’t understand that God provided my mother with the ability to take care of my sisters and myself.  Realistically, as a child of God, we have to start putting our whole trust in God to provide for us.  We need to be wholly dependent on Him. 

            “Open and Honest.”  Kids say the darndest things.  You can count on a child to embarrass you at some point.  They don’t realize that what they are saying can be taken the wrong way.  They just call it like they see it.  We have to be open and honest with God.  He knows all and He sees all.  When we come to him; we need to be open and honest with Him.  Tell God what is worrying you.  Tell God what you need.  Yes, He knows what we need, but He wants us to ask for his help and guidance.  He wants us to let Him know that we rely upon Him. 

            “Thankful.”  I thank you, God, for the air I breathe.  I thank you for waking me up this morning.  I thank you for the house I live in.  I thank you for the car I drive.  I thank you for the food in my refrigerator.  I thank you for the job I have.  Lord, I thank you for the family you gave me.  I thank you for everything.  Lord, I even thank you when I have nothing.  I just thank you for being You and creating me.  I thank you that you have a purpose and plan for me.  Lord, I thank you……  Children have no problem thanking you for small, inconsequential things.  They thank you for dirt to play in and the bugs crawling in that dirt.  If you give a child a gift, they are most often thankful, even when it’s the cheap toy from the Burger King kid’s meal.  Children delight in the small things.  It’s time that we as adults delight in the inconsequential.  We need to slow down and just breathe in the life that God gave us.  Appreciate the simple things in life and give God His proper due for those small things. 

            How often do you see a child worry?  Unless the parent burdens their children with what is worrying them, they don’t understand the concept of worry.  They don’t understand that if mommy or daddy doesn’t have money to pay rent, or the light bill. They don’t understand that money is this or that.  They don’t worry about what you are going to be doing three days from now.  They are interested in right now.  They could be playing “Pretty little princess” dress up or playing in the dirt with their Tonka trucks.  Tomorrow is not as interesting to them as what is going on today at this moment in time.  Scripture tells you not to worry.  It is written in red.  Jesus spoke it.  Matthew 6:34.  Don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

            “Humble.”  What is the definition of humble?  I am always hearing that we should be humble.  But, what is humble?  Humble is:

·         Unassuming

·         Not high or lofty

·         Not proud or arrogant

·         Thinking lowly of oneself

·         Weak

·         Modest

·         Meek

·         Submissive

·         To reduce independence

To be humble, you have to be fully dependent on God.  You have to know in your heart that without Him you are nothing.  You have to come to the realization that all we need and all we have comes from the Lord.  Just like we depended on our parents for our needs, we need to depend on God for those needs.  He is our Father.  He is our provider.  It is very hard to let go of the reins on our life.  We tend to try to be self-sufficient and independent.  We need to remember that there are times that this is okay.  But, when it comes to God, it is never okay.  Remind yourself of your childhood.  Remember the good times.  Come to God with a heart like a child, completely trusting, innocent and open.  Depend on Him for all your needs and they will be met.