Day 8: Childlike
Day 8: Childlike
Don Young
Today I want to go back again to what Jesus said in Matthew 18:4, “Whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Yesterday we talked about humility as a prerequisite to being Kingdom ready. Today, look at the second big statement in this passage, ”like a child.” Why a child? Because a child is basically carefree. Children don’t usually wake up in the morning and begin to work on the bills, or look for jobs, or plan vacations. Children don’t do adult stuff. Why is that? Because most children are being taken care of by someone older and wiser. That’s exactly the picture here. To be great in the Kingdom, you must be childlike, understanding that you are being cared for by someone older and wiser, your Heavenly Father!
I love the Kingdom principle here: if we want to be Kingdom ready, we need to be as dependent as a child on our Heavenly Father. Even though we grow out of our human childhood, we are always God’s children. Yes, we grow up spiritually, but we should never become independent of our Heavenly Father. The disciples, in Matthew 18, were child-ish because they were acting independent, irritable, bored, inflexible, and immature. That’s why Jesus had to use this illustration of a child.
As opposed to being childish, we need to become childlike--praising, easily excited, dependent, spontaneous, playful, and maturing. We should never become child-ish but according to this passage we should be child-like. Then we will be Kingdom ready!
Lord Jesus, today I repent of my child-ish ways, seeking to be independent and often complaining. Right now, I open my hands and heart to receive a fresh infusion of your love by the power of the Holy Spirit. I want to be more child-like; to depend upon you for everything. I want to be kingdom ready, in Jesus name, AMEN!
Don Young
Today I want to go back again to what Jesus said in Matthew 18:4, “Whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Yesterday we talked about humility as a prerequisite to being Kingdom ready. Today, look at the second big statement in this passage, ”like a child.” Why a child? Because a child is basically carefree. Children don’t usually wake up in the morning and begin to work on the bills, or look for jobs, or plan vacations. Children don’t do adult stuff. Why is that? Because most children are being taken care of by someone older and wiser. That’s exactly the picture here. To be great in the Kingdom, you must be childlike, understanding that you are being cared for by someone older and wiser, your Heavenly Father!
I love the Kingdom principle here: if we want to be Kingdom ready, we need to be as dependent as a child on our Heavenly Father. Even though we grow out of our human childhood, we are always God’s children. Yes, we grow up spiritually, but we should never become independent of our Heavenly Father. The disciples, in Matthew 18, were child-ish because they were acting independent, irritable, bored, inflexible, and immature. That’s why Jesus had to use this illustration of a child.
As opposed to being childish, we need to become childlike--praising, easily excited, dependent, spontaneous, playful, and maturing. We should never become child-ish but according to this passage we should be child-like. Then we will be Kingdom ready!
Lord Jesus, today I repent of my child-ish ways, seeking to be independent and often complaining. Right now, I open my hands and heart to receive a fresh infusion of your love by the power of the Holy Spirit. I want to be more child-like; to depend upon you for everything. I want to be kingdom ready, in Jesus name, AMEN!
Posted in 2023 Breakthrough Fast
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