As only Jesus can do, in today's reading from Matthew 18, he seizes on what's happening around Him to illustrate what the Kingdom of God is like. His disciples wanted to know who the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven would be (v.1) and Jesus had a child come and stand among them and spoke these words in v.v. 3&4:
"And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"
Little children in the culture of Jesus were not all that important, and certainly nowhere near as important as they are in our culture today. For Jesus to use a child as an example of faith was simply extraordinary and probably highly surprising. Jesus is telling the crowd that child-like faith is required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Before you get too excited, realize that there's a huge difference between child-like faith and childish faith. After all in 1 Corinthians 13:11 the Apostle Paul said, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."
Childish faith is self-centered. Like a child that doesn't get his way, a person of childish faith gives up or throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way.
Childish faith is disobedient. Like a child that doesn't want to pay attention to her parents' instruction, a person of childish faith lives her life as if what God says in His Word doesn't matter at all.
Childish faith doesn't grow up. Like a child that doesn't want to give up his or her binky or special blanket or stuffed animal, a person of childish faith doesn't want to give up patterns of sin or behavior that prevent us from growing in maturity in our faith.
But child-like faith is amazing!
Child-like faith sees all the splendor and glory of a loving Father and is amazed at His handiwork and His mighty power. Children love to marvel at things they don't understand! Did you ever watch a young child sit and study something as simple as a worm? Prodding it and poking it, and thinking it's the most amazing "toy" they've ever had? Children see the splendor and wonder in everything!
Child-like faith knows that without Jesus, we are helpless and prone to be tossed in every direction by every wind that blows and so we press in tightly to Him, knowing that He is our source of life and blessing. Did you ever have a child that was scared of a storm, or was awakened in the middle of the night because of a bad dream? What do they want in that moment? They want to press in tightly to mom or dad and find comfort and strength!
Child-like faith trusts that what God says is true and takes God at His word, even when it doesn't make sense. Just because we can't see it or imagine it, doesn't make it any less true. Have you ever seen a child's excitement at going on vacation, especially to somewhere magical and wonderful like Disney? Even though they can't fathom how wonderful and great it will be, they take their parents at their word, and believe that it WILL be the best vacation they've ever had!
Child-like faith believes that the best is yet to come! Even when children are disappointed or crushed by life, the faith by which they cling to future promises is amazing! When we are crushed or disappointed, we have an assurance that God is working in all things for our good when we are in Jesus. Have you ever seen a child disappointed or defeated by the outcome of a sport that they play? Sometimes there are even tears. But they trust and believe their coaches and instructors that they can play better and can win! They truly believe that the best is yet to come!
The key is learning to identify what kind of faith you're living with. Honestly evaluating your faith is where it begins. Take some time this week to consider whether your faith is childish or child-like.
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