This Child

Matthew 18 says 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.

Here we read of a change we must make in order to enter his kingdom.

We just change and become like little children.

How so?

Little children trust.  They go to bed at night, not worrying about what they’ll eat for breakfast or what clothes they will wear (if they have loving parents).  They  just sleep and wake up, and then they enjoy the day.

Little children play.  They play and enjoy creation, and they dance, unaware of their surroundings.  They know what it is to laugh and be carefree.

Little children are not tainted by the cares of the world that we all take on, as we age.  They know their position, they are the child and their parent is the provider, and they come to the table to eat.

It’s sad today, because so many children are in homes where there is fear and unsafe conditions, so those children are carrying burdens never meant for children to carry. 

However, in these verses we are called to change.  This requires effort on our part to trust, play, and be untainted by the cares of the world, so that we can experience His kingdom on earth. 

That’s the kind of change I want, to be childlike in my trust and love of my Father, so that I look at him in admiration, willing to do whatever he asks me to do.