Like A Little Child

Written May 5, 2008

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say unto you, unless you become as little children, you will in no means enter the kingdom of heaven. . .’ Matthew 18:1-3 NKJV

“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them. . . ” Matthew 19:13-15a NKJV


Twice in a relatively short time Jesus spoke of children in relationship to the kingdom of heaven. What does Jesus mean by saying that we need to become like children to enter the kingdom of God? Are only people less than 18 years old allowed to enter? NO. All are welcome; it is our attitude and receptiveness that must be like a child’s.

As we look at the term “like a little child” let’s think about what a little child is like. Children in general are very trusting of those whom they meet. They take people at face value. That means that until you prove you can’t be trusted a child will believe EVERYTHING you tell them. And even after you have proven false, a child will still want to trust in you – although they “know” they shouldn’t. A little child will give you anything you ask for without question. They will also do anything you ask of them and usually the very first time you ask.

I remember when my children were little; we shared a house for a time with a friend and his children. This house was right across the street from our church and down the block was a mini mart where our children went each payday to buy candy. One month when it came time to give the kids their allowance so that they could walk to the “candy store” our friend, jokingly, told the children that there was no allowance this time because of the earthquake in San Francisco that week. The money had been swallowed up by the streets that disappeared. Well of the four children the boys, the two younger ones, believed our friend, but the girls, who were 2-3 years older, did not. Those little boys completely trusted our friend and believed everything he told them. But the girls, who had more experience with this type of teasing, were able to see beyond his joke to the real truth. This innocence is one of the attributes of a little child Jesus was telling the disciples they had to have in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. We have to take on faith – the faith of a child, full of innocence and wonder – all that Jesus tells us about the kingdom.

But in order to be the greatest in heaven takes even more of a childlike nature. We also have to do everything Jesus calls us to do, unquestioningly. I am sure you have heard of taking a “leap of faith”, right? Well our whole Christian walk is to be one “step of faith” after another, everyday.

When we get up each morning we should give our day to Jesus and ask Him how we are to spend it. But here’s the hard part, then we have to walk out in faith, believing what He has said and DO that which He has asked of us for the day. Not just on Sunday - or when we feel like it - but everyday. I know this is a hard task, I haven’t been able to do this myself consistently. I usually start my day in the Word and pray for a few minutes and head out the door to whatever may lie ahead. And some days are quite treacherous with all the pitfalls I run into, some caused by the enemy, but most of my own making for not having “inquired of the Lord” what He would have me to do. I guess this is because I feel I do the same things every day, so what difference does it make? But this kind of nonchalance will lead us in a direction we don’t – or shouldn’t - want to go. Many times we ask God to direct us, but we forget to “write down”, or listen to, His directions. In essence we go out the door without our road map. This is a waste of His time and almost the same as not asking for His direction in the first place. So why bother. Better yet, ask for His direction, write it down and/or memorize it, and actually follow His road map day by day, trusting that He knows the best pathways for us to follow. This is one of the things we need to do in order to be great in His kingdom.

So in order to be great in the kingdom of heaven we must be childlike. And to be childlike is to be obedient to, and trusting of, Jesus in all things. Great! Now we have a better understanding of that half. But what of the second reference that mentions being like a little child.



“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them. . . ” Matthew 19:13-15a NKJV

Can we gain a better understanding of this, too?

I think we can. This verse is telling us not to send the children away, because the kingdom of God full of people who are just like them. In other words those who live in God’s kingdom are childlike; they are obedient to, and trusting of, Jesus in all things.

So in order to be great in the kingdom of heaven - and even to live in it - we must be childlike. And to be childlike is to be obedient to, and trusting of, Jesus in all things. This is more difficult than we may think, for we will have to unlearn how to be “adult-like.” Most of us by the time we hit our teenage years we have lost our child-like nature. We no longer trust implicitly or obey quickly and without question. Now as believers this is exactly what Jesus is asking us to do, daily – moment-by-moment - at times. We need to be like the boys I mentioned earlier who trusted when they were told there was no allowance, innocently and without question. We also need to obey, following His direction in the same way your children follow you around. Doing what they see you doing and obeying what you tell them to do. Blindly and without question, fully believing He will always lead us in the right paths and that He will NEVER lead us to do the wrong things!

How childlike are you? I know I miss the mark – miserably!


When I first wrote this I felt like I was totally missing the mark on this area of being "like a little child." I would take - and still do - a quiet time alone with Jesus first thing most mornings before I ever got into the day's schedule, but I wasn't giving my day to God, seeking His direction, making note of it, and following it through out my day. Since I found this error in my devotional time I have made a point of actually taking the time to listen to and make note of what God is telling me for each day. While life still has it's struggles, I have found it more rewarding to actually have and follow the "road map" Jesus gives me when I have taken the time to receive it from Him each day. Yes I still have basically the same schedule daily, and yet I feel more "directed" in my prayer time and less "frazzled" by the roller coaster we call life when I have made this type of effort. Don't get me wrong, I am not perfect -- far from it. I am just striving to be more like the "little child" Jesus has called me to be. And that is the Lesson for Life I am currently learning.

Hope this blesses your life in some small way as it has mine.

Leigh