Like a little child.

God put these words on my heart in the summer of last year. We are commanded to become like little children.

“And he said, ‘ I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 18:3

We can’t get into heaven if we don’t become like little children, seems like a pretty big deal to me. So then, what does becoming a little child look like? No, it doesn’t mean wearing pull-ups again or watching Elmo or crying when things don’t go our way or going back to kindergarten of finger painting or any of the behaviour of a little child, no, we are to have the spirit of a little child. What does that mean?

~ It means having complete and utter dependency on the Father. Children aren’t independent what so ever, and we shouldn’t be either. We should lean on God in every circumstance, we should trust him for every need, with our dreams, with our dislikes, we should trust Him so much that if we were to walk away for even one second, we would be lost.

~ It means unconditional love. Even when the dog is covered in fleas and mud and is barking and going crazy, my 6-year-old brother is the first one to give him a loving hug. Even when someone is noticeably different to the point where you know you won’t get along with them, it means still loving them even though they’re impossible to love.

~ It means unending grace. When parents forget to do something or get mad about something they later realize wasn’t worth getting mad about, children don’t hold grudges for days on end, they’re the first to forgive and move on. When children have a ‘fight’ with their friends, they work it out & then go right back on playing as if nothing happened. We need to show unending grace to those who disappoint us, or hurt us, even if they don’t deserve to be forgiven.

~ It means blind faith. It means following the Father into new situations where it could either be a new toy or a chore chart. Children just go with it because in a child’s eyes, trust isn’t a choice or a question, its just natural. It means not knowing what’s around the next corner but knowing you’ll be safe because you’re with the Father.

~ It means joy, when there is no reason to be joyful. It means even when everything is falling apart, you are able to have a smile on your face because the troubles of this life far out weigh the glory in heaven.

Like a little child.

Unconditional love.

Dependency.

Unending grace.

Blind faith.

Joy.

Like a little child.

This isn’t something to take lightly; it is a command from God. Become like a little child. It’s that simple. This is why I give every summer to serving at Circle Square Ranch, this is why I sold everything & moved down to Peru to start an orphanage, this is why I fell in love with Haiti & the children there. Children are so important & we should strive to be like them every day.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus & asked, ‘ Who is the greatest in the kingdom?’

He called a little child & had him stand among them. And He said, ‘ I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large milestone hung around his neck & to be drowned in the depths of the sea.’” Matthew 18:1-6