As a Child

Matthew 18:3. “…unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” There have been many sermons on this I’m sure, how we must be humble like children, trusting like children. Yes, but think about just how trusting a child really is. Watch a dad play with a little one. Put yourself in the child’s place, wrestling with this brute who’s two or three times as big as you are, someone who could easily stomp you into nonexistence. But you trust he won’t. you laugh and take part in the wrestle. Even though you give it your all, it’s obvious you’re no match for his strength. Yet you automatically trust he’s not going to hurt you.

By far the most challenging is when he picks you up and throws you in the air. And then catches you. Not once does it cross your mind that this is dangerous, he’s going to drop me, this is going to kill me. No, you trust.

Now try that with an adult. Pick them up and throw them in the air. No matter how much that adult may trust and love and feel safe around that person, you know that would be an immediate freak out. I don’t think there’s an adult alive who could handle that.

But that’s what Jesus is talking about when he says “become like children.” It’s to trust him so utterly, it doesn’t even cross your mind he won’t be there for you. That he won’t protect you, or provide for you, or see you through whatever is going on.

I think this is one of the hardest things he told us to do—become as a child.