Receive The Kingdom of God Like a Child
By Allan E. McNabb

I was holding Jared Trask while talking with Tom and Melanie last Wednesday, and it reminded me that all of us must become like a child to go to heaven.

Upon one occasion, the disciples rebuked people for bringing little children to Jesus so He could touch them.  Jesus rebuked the disciples and said, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mk. 10:14).

God’s Kingdom Belongs to People Who Are Childlike
Jesus says “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” — namely children (Mk. 10:14).  In other words, we must have childlike characteristics to be members of God’s kingdom.

On another occasion, when Jesus’ disciples asked who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3).

To enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be converted and become like a child. 

We Must Be Humble Like a Child
Jesus also gives us the key characteristic of a child that we must possess — humility.

After Jesus told the disciples they must be converted and become like little children, he said, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:4).

James and Peter, teaching on salvation and quoting from the Old Testament, say, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Ja. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).

Without the childlike characteristic of humility, God will not save us — we will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

We Must Receive God’s Kingdom Like a Child
In a broader sense, Jesus tells us that we must receive the kingdom of God like a child.  If we don’t, we “will not enter it at all” (Mk. 10:15).

In other words, our whole attitude toward God, Christ, and the kingdom must be childlike.  As a child is endeared to his parents for the blessings they bestow upon him, so Christians love God and seek to please Him in everything we do.

Like children, we want to learn everything we can about God, His word, and His church, believing wholeheartedly everything God communicates in His word.

We are like Samuel, who simply wanted God to communicate His will so he could obey.  We go to God’s word with open and receptive minds, learn God’s will, and obey.

Have You Been Converted?
Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3).

“Converted” means to turn from a course of conduct.  It denotes a change of mind that is demonstrated by a change in behavior.

Have you changed to become the childlike person God wants you to be, humbly serving Him as a child serves his father?