BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN
Matthew 18:1-4, 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 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. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The Lord Jesus saw some traces of strive, pride and competition among his disciples and He gave them a warning that unless they become converted and become like little children they can’t enter the kingdom of heaven.
We can see that the body of Christ is plagued by unnecessary competition, too many people seeking the approval of men at the expense of another brother or sister repeating the same mistake of the disciples.
No one is the greater or the greatest, God is the greatest and we must accord Him that honour. The devil wants us to make ourselves the centre instead of making Jesus the centre of attention and focus.
Seven Characteristics of Little Children We Must Have
1. Children are very humble
There is no pride in children, they are very meek. God resist the proud but will give grace to the humble (James 4:6)
God will resist a proud person, so to be proud is to be opposed by God! May God not oppose you in Jesus name!
Receive the grace of God to be humble just like a child in Jesus name!!!
2. Children are always joyful
Kids always play and laugh! They are always excited! They don’t worry about anything and this is what God wants to see in us His children.
The adults are worried about tomorrow but the little children are excited and happy knowing that daddy and mummy will provide and protect.
Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Today's trouble is enough for today.
3. Children are light hearted and easy to forgive
This is very amazing! I have been praying that God gives me the heart of a child. My niece is two years old and the Holy Spirit has ministered several times to me just seeing the way she forgives and forgets. I often scold her and she gets angry, sometimes cries bitterly but within the next few minutes she's back in my arms, she’s playing with me. Can you imagine? We are so deep hearted that we remember wrongs and take things too serious. We often keep a record of wrongs but that is not love manifested (1Cor.13:5).
4. Children are shameless
We are often ashamed of doing the work of God. Paul said I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).
Are you still ashamed of sharing your faith? Are you still ashamed of telling people what you believe and stand for?
Jesus said “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38).
5. Children don’t desire positions or authority
I have often said that many great prophets of God when called by God were not ambitious to become men of God, some of them like Jeremiah often told God they were not qualified. Jeremiah says he cannot even speak and he is too young (Jeremiah 1:6), these are excuses that genuine men who are not ambitious have. Why do people these days want to just become a great man/woman of God, they often do not wait to be called, they call themselves and race to be the greatest in the kingdom.
6. Children have to depend on their parents for everything
No child provides for themselves, they have to depend on their parents for survival.
Are we depending on God or are we self-sufficient? If we can do it ourselves, we don’t need God anymore.
- Our total dependence on God isn’t weakness, it is faith in action.
- Never be tired of asking God for everything, He is our source.
Matthew 7:11 “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him”
7. Children are quick to learn
A child is excited to learn new things and are very quick to learn. God wants us to be quick learners, He wants us to come to the knowledge of truth.
2 Timothy 3:7 “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Papa Oyedepo said "learning is living" It means when you become too big to learn, you become too big to live. We must remain teachable if we must be reachable! If God cannot teach you, then He cannot reach you.
Christianity is not just to be tongue talking, it is a call to be Christ like in every way not some ways! We must always examine ourselves and ask for grace to be in the faith, if we do not do this we may just be deceiving ourselves.
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith”
- Receive the grace to become a child in Jesus name!
- Every characteristics of a child that is godly will never be lacking in you in Jesus name!
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