Hello, dear friends.
Today I want to share with you some thoughts on children and what they can teach us as adults. Children are a gift from God, and they have a special place in His heart. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
What does it mean to be like a child in God’s eyes? How can we learn from their innocence, their faith, their joy, and their love? Here are some lessons that I believe God wants us to learn from children:
1. Children are humble. They do not think too highly of themselves, or too lowly of others. They are not proud or arrogant, but they are willing to learn and grow. They depend on their parents for everything, and they trust them completely. They do not worry about tomorrow, but they live in the present moment. They are not ashamed to admit their mistakes, or to ask for forgiveness. They are not afraid to show their emotions, or to express their needs. They are humble before God, and they acknowledge their need for Him.
2. Children are faithful. They believe what they are told, and they take God at His word. They do not doubt or question His promises, but they accept them as true. They do not let the circumstances of life shake their confidence in Him, but they cling to Him in times of trouble. They do not give up on their dreams, or on their calling, but they persevere with hope and courage. They do not compromise their values, or their convictions, but they stand up for what is right. They are faithful to God, and they follow Him with all their heart.
3. Children are joyful. They find happiness in the simple things of life, and they are grateful for what they have. They do not complain or grumble, but they rejoice in the Lord always. They do not let the problems of life steal their joy, but they cast their cares on Him who cares for them. They do not focus on the negative, or the impossible, but they see the positive and the possible. They do not lose their sense of wonder, or their enthusiasm, but they celebrate every day as a gift from God. They are joyful in God, and they praise Him with all their soul.
4. Children are loving. They love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and they love their neighbor as themselves. They do not hate or resent anyone, but they forgive and bless those who hurt them. They do not judge or condemn anyone, but they accept and welcome those who are different from them. They do not envy or covet anyone’s possessions, but they share and give generously to those who are in need. They do not hold back or hide their love, but they show it and say it often. They are loving to God, and they reflect His love to others.
These are some of the qualities that make children so precious in God’s sight, and so attractive to us as adults. We can learn a lot from them, and we can become more like them by the grace of God.
As we grow older, we tend to lose some of these childlike traits. We become more cynical and skeptical, more anxious and fearful, more selfish and greedy, more bitter and angry. We forget who we are in Christ, and we drift away from our first love.
But God wants us to regain our childlike spirit, and to renew our relationship with Him. He wants us to humble ourselves before Him, and to trust Him with all our lives. He wants us to be faithful to Him, and to follow Him with all our hearts. He wants us to be joyful in Him, and to praise Him with all our souls. He wants us to be loving to Him, and to reflect His love to others.
This is what it means to enter the kingdom of heaven as a child. This is what it means to please God as His children.
So let us pray today that God would help us to be more like children in His eyes. Let us ask Him to fill us with His Spirit, and to transform us into His image. Let us seek Him with all our being, and let us love Him with all our might.
And let us remember that He loves us as His children, and that He is always with us as our Father.