LUKE 18:15–17
“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it”
(Luke 18:17).
People were bringing babies to Jesus for His blessing. The disciples felt that Jesus was too important for this, so they rebuked the crowd. Jesus, however, called the children to Himself and told the disciples not to hold them back because they set an example for the trusting attitude believers in Christ are required to have to enter the kingdom (Luke 18:16–17).
We should take strong notice when Jesus sets a condition for entering the kingdom of God. What does He mean by saying that we must receive the kingdom like a little child? First let me point out what He does not mean. He does not mean that we should always keep our faith simple, that we should not let our faith become encumbered by diligent study of and meditation on the Word of God.
Sometimes we use this call to childlike faith as an excuse to avoid the discipline of serious and mature behavior and study. There is, however, a difference between a childlike faith and a childish faith. A childish faith chooses to remain immature and is a form of arrogance and rebellion.
Jesus is saying that children trust what their parents teach them. True, older children sometimes rebel against their parents’ teachings, but young children trust their parents implicitly. It is this kind of trust in God that we are to hold at all costs. We are to trust Him implicitly and submit to His chastisement of us.
Luke puts this story right after the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee did not have childlike faith, but was proud and arrogant. By way of contrast, the publican was humble and childlike, waiting for his Father to reassure him.
CORAM DEO
Ecclesiastes 4–6
2 Corinthians 10
Most of us have observed people who resist growth and change in the church because they just don’t want to have to learn anything new. Carefully consider whether you have been guilty of this attitude and then think about how small children who trust their parents respond to “new” things. Avoid childish faith; strive for childlike faith.
For further study: 1 Corinthians 3:1–9; Ephesians 4:14–16; 1 Peter 1:13–2:3; tape #B57INT.76/77
wednesday
september