Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
What quality is there in a child that Jesus sees as so valuable and important?
Little children are humble, teachable and trusting.
A child does not need to question if their parents love them, they take it for granted that they do.
Children are very easy to teach because they want to learn, they are naturally inquisitive and they believe what they are told without a hint of cynicism.
Once a person reaches maturity, they have been hurt and disappointed by people and life a few times. An adult is less likely to trust someone without first getting to know them better. An adult may listen, but often they already have formed an opinion before the entire matter is told them.
Jesus said that unless a person becomes like a little child, they cannot enter Heaven. What did He mean?
When a mature person is told the story of how Jesus came to earth and lived as a man, went through all of the trials and temptations that every other human being goes through, yet did so without sin, they might find that a little hard to believe.
An adult who hears how Jesus suffered and died on a Roman Cross, was put to death and then rose from the dead on the third day, paying for the sins of every human being, would naturally be skeptical.
Being an adult and a little jaded by life, with an understanding that anything that sounds too good to be true, usually is, many adults over 40 find it hard to accept Jesus and surrender their life to Him.
A child of only 7 or 8 on the other hand, can be told about Jesus’ Love and what He has done on the Cross to forgive sins and immediately respond to Him with acceptance and love.
What is the major difference between the two? The heart.
A child’s heart is soft and pliable. The heart of most adults is harder, and at least slightly calloused by repeated episodes of hurt and disappointment.
Jesus said that unless a man humbles himself, and is willing to listen and trust Him, there is no way he can obtain eternal life.
In order to experience the forgiveness of sin and the release of all guilt, a person is going to have to accept something that makes no sense. Jesus died and paid for all of our sins. How could one man do this? Why would Jesus die for someone like me?
As adults, we miss out on many of the best blessings in life because we are just too scared to take a chance and go for it. We lack meaningful and satisfying relationships with other people because we are afraid of being hurt or taken advantage of. We miss opportunities to see God do great things in our life because we are afraid to take a “Venture of Faith” and step out into uncharted waters.
God is restricted from doing what He really wants to do for us and with us, because we will not believe that He can bless us, or that He even wants to bless us.
Jacob is famously known as the man who “Wrestled with God”.
Genesis 32:24-30 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
What is most important in this meeting between Jacob and the Lord, is that Jacob recognized that the Lord had the capacity to bless him, and that all blessing comes from the Lord.
The former name of Jacob meant “Liar, deceiver, usurper, and governed by the flesh.”
By Jacob holding on to God and not being willing to let go until he received the blessing from the Lord, Jacob’s name was changed to “Israel”, “Governed by God.”
Jacob went from one being governed by his flesh, to a man being governed by God, simply by wrestling with God until he received the blessing of God.
In our walk with the Lord today, let us grab ahold of Jesus and hold on to Him until we experience all that He has planned for our lives. Let us not be afraid to ask Him for His blessing, then believe that He wants to bless us, and finally thank Him in advance even before the blessing arrives.
Let us determine to stay humble before the Lord, and daily confess our sins. Remaining teachable so that we can grow. Forever trusting in His goodness and mercy that will never end and will not fail us.
May we go from people governed by our own flesh to those who are controlled and moved by God in every area of our life.
