By Pastor Stephen Hess –
Of all the commands that Jesus gave in the gospels, I have always found one of the most intriguing to be his command that we become like children. On one occasion Jesus called a child to himself and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3-4). According to Jesus, becoming like a child is a prerequisite for entering his kingdom!
Jesus wanted his followers not only to emulate children but infants. Luke’s Gospel tells us that periodically people would bring their babies to Jesus so that he might touch them (Lk. 18:15). The disciples rebuked these people and tried to prevent them from bothering Jesus. Unlike our culture where babies are adored and obsessed over, ancient cultures viewed children as a burden until they were old enough to contribute to the family. But Jesus challenged the cultural assumptions of his day. He said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Lk. 18:16-17).
What is it about children that Jesus wanted us to emulate? The answer is their dependence. Children, and especially infants, are completely dependent upon their parents. I was recently reminded of this after the birth of our daughter. From the moment of her birth, she was helpless and needy, relying upon us for everything she needs. Children not only depend upon their parents for all their needs, but they come to their parents with a simple trust that their parents will provide for them. Jesus wants us to come to our heavenly Father with the same kind of dependence and childlike trust. We are to depend upon him rather than ourselves, trusting that he will give us everything we need.
However, we should also note that there are some ways that believers are not called to emulate children. Scripture makes clear that while our spiritual lives should reflect the innocence of children, they should not reflect the immaturity of children. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” Similarly, Paul says in Ephesians that believers should “no longer be children” who are “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Eph. 4:14-15). Although we are called to become like children, these verses make clear that this doesn’t mean we do not “grow up.” Every follower of Jesus should be growing in spiritual maturity.
Unfortunately, there are many Christians who have become like children in all the wrong ways. Rather than living a life of dependence upon God they live independently of him, relying upon their own wisdom and strength. Rather than believing in God with childlike trust they doubt God’s word and his promises. Rather than growing in spiritual maturity they become complacent and remain infants in the faith.
If we are to become children in the right ways, we should heed the Apostle Peter’s advice: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Pet. 2:2-3). The milk to which Peter is referring is the word of God. By drinking the milk of God’s word, we demonstrate that we are dependent upon him and that we trust in him. Additionally, it is only by continually drinking this milk that we grow in spiritual maturity.