As a Little Child…
Before we begin, I just wanted to tell you that Pastor Bob was off today and was not going to be able to write his weekly message. He will be back this evening for his On-line Radio Show at www.ChristianLivingRadio.org. Tonight’s show is called “Start and Run a Successful Business by Using The Bible” You can listen to it at 6:00 PM Eastern time. As always, listeners can call in with any questions.
Pastor Bob, wanted to convey one simple message to everyone. While he has been spending some time with his wife and kids he noticed something interesting. His children seemed to make friends with any child at any time. Why is that? Last night, Pastor Bob was telling me the story of he and his wife meeting a couple because while at a playground on the beach. The children started playing together and within a few minutes, the children were calling each other by their first names and playing like they have known each other for years.
When Pastor Bob was telling me this story, we both came to the same conclusion at that moment. Mark 10:13-15 “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” NKJV
Children tend to see things very differently than we do. Children do not have the prejudices that have been built up over many years. They do not look at other children and “wonder” about them. They are simply peaceful and humble and would play with any child who wanted to play with them. Pastor Bob told me how his daughter and one of the girls, hugged each other as it was time to go. How many times have you hugged a person goodbye that you just met a couple of hours ago?
So in the above Scripture, what does Jesus mean when he says we need to receive the kingdom of God as a little Child?
Well instead of answering that, why don’t you tell me what that means to you. Leave your answer below.
Pastor Doug
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:22 am
I was just sharing a story of the same natural with my friends the other week. I agree as adults we treat others not with the freedom as a child. I said we should treat others as if we were blind, so not to see who it is we speak to. Not knowing who friends they have or what kind of car or clothes they wear. So for me it would mean that faith that of a child. Thank you Steven T.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
God Bless you all Pastor Bob:
Here Jesus is telling us that as children often do they do not form opinions.
They are given to hear instructions without trying to figure them out.
It is as it is written in Proverbs 3:5 Lean not to our own understanding but in all our ways aknowlege God…He will direct our path. As little children we should be ready to understand that we don’t know it all and should be given to listen to and apply to our lives the instructions to live life fully as only God (Through Jesus Christ) can instruct us. Rev Ray Bennett. New Direction M.B. Church Chicago,IL
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:46 am
I agree with Steven, if we could just humble ourselves and take ourselves off the throne and put God back on the throne and just accept people as they are, not looking for what they can do for you or what you don’t want to do for them. Just to receive God and His Word, as children receive each other, trusting and having faith. Believing that what He say in His Word is true. That is what it means to me. Stay Blessed Delphine B.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:07 am
I used this scripture or one of the similar ones from the other gospels in a message on faith. Too often we have become jaded, bitter and distrusting. Children, until a certain point, tend to be trusting of people in authority - parents, teachers, etc. so it is natural for them to trust God. They depend completely on others to take care of them, so they have complete faith in them. They have this same spirit of trust and dependence with God if they have any kind of relationship with Him. We need to be reborn so we can put our faith and complete trust and dependence in God. He will never let us down, will never leave us or forsake us and has great plans for us. We cannot let the challenges of life keep us from a personal relationship with God that is honest and real.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Coming to Christ as a little child. When I think about this I think of how children have absolute faith in their parents. If dad said it, then it must be fact. They trust their parents and lean not unto their own understanding (we are talking about LITTLE children here, right?). I also think of the fact that to a child his father is the baddest-toughest man on earth. He can whip anybody. They will always go to their father for protection. We are to come to Jesus and trust what he tells us, whether we understand it or not. Understanding will come in time as we see life unfold. Jesus said that he is our protector and provider, he would never leave or forsake us. In the storms of life (if you are not in one now, just wait) we need to have faith in Jesus the Christ as a little child has toward his earthly father. He will provide for you and He will see you through the storm. If God, the creator of the universe and provider of your redemptiom, is for you, then who or what can prevail against you?
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Carmen Jr. Castaneda
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:31a.m.
As a child I was brought up in church and taught to respect and love one another and live for the lord jesus christ. I was brought up in a home where discipline was a priority. The discipline I was taught was not a harsh one, but one that taught me values in the home, school, church and where ever we may go, I was almost 18yrs. of age before I went to my first movie with a friend. As the years went by I started straying further and further away from God knowing that what I was doing to him was wrong. I’ve been through some very difficult times as an adult and during this time, knew that the lord jesus christ was there but I did not want to turn to him. What I’m trying to say is this, I am 43yrs. of age now and a month ago I reached out and cried out to the lord for help. During all these years that I was trying to make it on my own I was failing miserably, but I remembered the words my parents would alway tell me (son, jesus loves you and will never leave you nor fail you). I have always loved and cared for everyone, even in my lost days, it was instilled in me by the parents that jesus gave me. This was because a (child that is brought up knowing about the lord jesus christ) will always love and care until the day that we ask for his help and he says to us (my child I never left you). It is very important that children be brought up knowing about god and the love and care that he has for everyone of us, but just like he is a loving god his is also a jealous one and will show us. Keep our children in church and raise them with respect and love for one another & wherever they may be and go it will be known that they serve our lord jesus christ. Amen
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
It is the classic paradox of living in a cursed world. We need knowledge and wisdom; yet, it is the acquiring of knowledge — the empirical experience that aids in our corruption. The world, the sin , the flesh and the devil are agressively operative; and without an established conformity to the image of Jesus we will continuously, and unwittingly conform to the opposition. Jesus is the perfection of the unity between experience and childlike humility. It follows that He is the only hope of genuine success in achieving Jesus-like unity within ourselves. Our only ambition should be to be like Him — the rest, including mundane responsibilities, will follow. So, we pray, discern, and go forward. We are so imbedded in our carbon based reality, it’s as if the veil has not been removed even among Christians. If we were able to see ourselves we would find something wrong with churches consisting of only one ethnic group in an ethnically deversified community. There is something wrong with much of what we do — yet we do it. There is very little, ’stepping out of the boat’ — which is precisely what we, at some point, must do. At first only Peter stepped out, but eventually all the disciples were able to truly represent Christ. Without 1 Corinthians 13:1,2; and John 21:15-17, there is simply no way to conforn to the image of our Messiah. Love is greater than faith — and with Love, faith is much easier to possess.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I was given the choice to go to Church are not. I have been to Catholic Churches,Baptist Churches, Assemblies of God, and Methodists Churches.
Jesus Gave 2 Commandments before he left this Earth:
1) Love One Another as I have Loved You
2) Love Your Neighbors as Yourself
Children Look at the Heart of a Person and that is what we should do.
The Heart is what GOD Looks at and we are to be Christ Like so we need to quit judging by outward appearances, money you have are who you know.
If You Don’t know JESUS you don’t know anyone.
We should as Jesus Love the Sinner,but hate the sin.
Show all sinners Love and in the process the Holy Spirit Will stir their Hearts.
May GOD Open EVERYONES Heart to Be Like a Child.
Love Them and also Have you noticed how easy it is for a child to forgive(We parents will hold a grudge for Months, but our child is playing with that person the next day).
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
unless we change our ways and as a little child does what he does as a child the next day he gets up and start his or her day not able to do for themselves but trusting that some one is going t be there helping them through it they are not thinking about what happened the day before its all forgotten its like they forgiving heart and its a new day if we as adults do as a little child we will all see what the King has promised us .
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Receive the Kingdom of God like a child means follow God with humility, and without judgment. A child is innocent, and accepts things without criticism. This is how how a Christian should behave.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Jesus is saying to be open and vunerable and willing to the word of God.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:01 am
To recieve the kingdom of God with OPEN ARMS. This is what I see when
Pastor Bob was taking about his daughter and her new friend. Love covers a
multitude of fault. Genuine love is humble and kind. If we don’t have a child-
like love in our hearts we can’t recieve the Kingdom of God.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
He meant at least that he desires his siblings to live in spirit of
Psalm 131
1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.
He no doubt meant a lot more too, which we will discover in due course as we live increasingly in Him.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:55 am
It doesnt mean that we have to be a child but to have the heart of one, Like a child is sinless to a certain age (12) but their hearts are clean with innocence and purity and love without conditions and not judgemental and their spirits are untested by satan thus under GODs watchful eye!! Which makes them very strong and can fight satan and he knows this?/ Right now Satan is after out children so that he can cause disharmoney in their hearts but it will not happen ?? TO GOD BE THE GLORY and its always my will to do his will ,Amen!!!!!!!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:58 am
JESUS USED OUR EARTHLY LANGUAGE TO SPEAK ABOUT SPIRITUAL THINGS WHICH ARE NOT VISIBLE IN THIS VISIBLE WORLD. THE WORDS OF JESUS MAY BE THE SAME WORDS OF MEN BUT THE MEANINGS AND IMPLICATIONS ARE DIFFERENT. WHEN JESUS SAID A LITTLE CHILD HE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN A HUMAN BABY. TO FULLY GRAB THIS LET US SEE A POSITIVE USE OF A CHILD IN ANOTHER SCRIPTURE. ISAIAH 9:6 SAYS THAT A CHILD WILL BE BORN TO US. AND THIS CHILD IS SON GIVEN TO US. THIS PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED IN MATTHEW 1:23, BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH A CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON….OKAY, THIS CHILD AS WE READ WAS THE BIRTH OF JESUS. WE ALSO KNOW IN JOHN 1:1 THAT IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD….IN VERSE 14 THE WORD BECAME FLESH. THE FIRST TIME THE WORD BECAME FLESH WAS WHEN THE WORD WAS BORN AS A CHILD. NOW SINCE WE KNOW CHRIST NO LONGER ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, THE CHILD IS NOW THE WORD. LITTLE CHILD BECOMES LITTLE WORD. IF ANYONE RECEIVES A LITTLE WORD OF GOD IN THEIR HEART THEY HAVE RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THE LITTLE WORD IS COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF A MUSTARD SEED WHICH IS WELL ABLE TO MOVE MOUNTAINS OF SIN AND EVIL FROM OUR HEARTS AND RESTORE FAITH, PEACE, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. FOR THESE ARE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.