Becoming Little Children in the Kingdom of God

The disciples once came to Jesus with a very human question — who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? His answer overturned their assumptions entirely.

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 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. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:2-4 (NKJV)

Childlikeness means rest

When I consider becoming as a little child, the first thing that comes to mind is rest. We are not called to do this life on our own; we need Someone else to help us. We can place our lives, and our cares, into God’s hands and trust that He will lead us through. That should bring rest to the heart — the confidence that God will carry us beyond our own natural capacity.

…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

That is a tremendous reality: every care we have can be cast upon Him, and He will care for us. A little child does not carry the household’s burdens. In the same way, God is the One leading us through, opening the doors, shielding us from the darkness, meeting our every need, and giving us a word to speak in season. We are simply called to receive it.

Childlikeness means humility before a great God

Becoming as a little child also speaks to the mystery and greatness of God, and to genuine humility before Him. One of the great sins of mankind is pride — lifting yourself up in yourself, apart from God, imagining that you are great. That is a terrible sin. We need to continually become as little children before God. And Jesus attaches an astonishing promise to it: do this, and you will be the greatest in the kingdom of God.

Each of us has some level of spiritual understanding, but in reality it is nothing compared to what God knows and understands. That is humbling — but it is good. When we do not understand why life is unfolding a certain way, we can rest assured that God does, and that He has a plan in the midst of it. There remains a certain mystery in the believing heart: a confidence that God will open things up in His time, and that He will see us through to the end.

I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

Matthew 11:25 (NKJV)

It is a tremendous way to live — as a little child in every circumstance. We can pray, we can ask, we can seek, and we can find, because God is the One who will do it and open His truth to us.

🎥 Watch the full message: Becoming Little Children in the Kingdom of God