Become Like a Child

Glad to have you back ... To refresh our memories a bit, remember, Jesus and the Apostles had recently arrived in Galilee from Capernaum. When they went back to Capernaum, it seems that along this journey, the Apostles had a little discussion among themselves about who would have the best position in the new Kingdom that they were expecting would be coming about soon. Oh you can just imagine, the twelve of them, probably half jokingly, yet serious, going on about who met Jesus first, or who knew more about politics, or who could manage the financial affairs of the Kingdom the best, who was the oldest, who was the smartest, who was this and who was that.

Well, Jesus knew what was going on, and when they got to Capernaum He asked them, What was your disagreement about on the way? They were embarrassed, so they were all quiet and none of them had an answer to give Jesus. He sat down and called His twelve Apostles to Him and said, If any man desires to be first, that same man will be the last of all, and servant of all.

This is the important part of our ... Become Like a Child as to find your Childlike Heart research investigation.

Then, Jesus took a small child and set him in the middle of them, and when He had taken him in His arms, He said, Honestly I tell you, Unless you be converted, and become as little children, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever will humble himself like this little child, that man is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives a child like this in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, receives Him that sent me. Whoever is least among you, will be great. But whoever offends one of these little ones who believes in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hanged around his neck, and that he was drowned in the bottom of the sea.

What did that ... How to have Childlike Faith Bible verse mean? You must be as a child? What do you believe Jesus mean by that? Innocent. Pure. Angelic. Selfless. Forgiving. Trusting. Trustworthy. Remember what it was like before you had the cares of the world on your shoulders and the worldly matters ... In your mind? When you see a child now, do you ever wish you could be a kid again? Jesus wants you to be. Not in the sense of being three foot tall with a dirty face and your sneaker laces always untied, but to have the kind of dedicated belief that a child has. They're devoted. Their minds are clean. They don't have adult worries. All they need is to love and be loved. They believe. They believe they can swing on a swing and touch the sky. They believe their Guardian Angel takes care of them. They believe that a kiss can heal a boo boo, and they believe that God hears their prayers.

Let's continue our Become Like a Child with a Childlike Heart journey. Jesus wants us to be like that. He said, Unless you be as a little child, you won't get into Heaven. It's the world that has CON-vinced us to believe that being childlike isn't a good thing. Even the word childish makes you feel ashamed. But that's not what Jesus said, so don't let the world get you confused. The next time you get the chance, challenge yourself to this: Don't worry what other people think, be as a child. Swing on a swing, throw a stone into a lake, color a picture with a brand new box of crayons, stomp in a puddle, devour a chocolate ice cream cone, and kneel down next to your bed and whisper, Now I lay me down to sleep. You don't need to be embarrassed, because that's what it takes to get to Heaven.

While you're at it, check out how much easier it is to just plain feel good while you're doing those things. Why is that? Because you put all those things aside that are in between you and God, and that allows you to be closer to Him. You may not even be conscious of it, but isn't that what it was like way back when you didn't have all those things to be concerned about when you were a child? Isn't life funny? When you're a child, you can't wait to be an adult. Now that you're an adult ... Guess what! It's cool to be a child!

Whoever receives a child like this in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, receives Him that sent me. Why not try a prayer something like this: Dear Father, In the name of Christ Jesus your precious Son, at one with the Holy Spirit, please bless me with a childlike spirit and help me to receive Jesus as a child. I ask you to please remove all thoughts that may hinder me from being childlike and I praise you and thank you for your help in this because I've forgotten how to do it. I love you, Father. Thy will be done. Amen.

Hope you have fun with your new little Become Like a Child with a Childlike Heart challenge. Maybe instead of just doing it one time and forgetting about it, you might try doing something childlike once a day until it becomes a habit, (usually 40 days) then stand back and watch the magic of being a child start to enlighten your life while you're steadily getting closer to the Kingdom of Heaven. Let's play a little game ... Tag ...You're it! Now go and find the child inside of you that's been hiding and share the how to have Childlike Faith Bible verse with other children of God!

Become as a child as to have a childlike heart.