Childlike Living
How can you embrace Jesus’s call to be childlike?
Verse of the Day
“About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Today’s Devotional
How do we do this? How do we obey what Jesus is teaching here? How do we become like little children?
There is an innocence to children that is precious. Our belief in Jesus makes us innocent. Do we believe that? Children have no shame about how needy they are. And they are definitely needy. But they don’t seem to mind that they are completely reliant on others. Are we ashamed of our need? Children have no need to hide or mask their emotions. They are raw, honest, authentic, and real.
If we are to address God as “Father”, then we are His children and we need to live like His children. But how do we do this? Andrew Murray teaches this about childlike living:
“The power of the promise, “Ask and it will be given to you,” lies in the loving relationship between us as children and our Father in heaven. When we live and walk in that relationship, the prayer of faith and its answer will be the natural result. Live as a child of God and you will be able to pray and most assuredly be heard as a child.
The answer to the question “What is true child-life?” can be found in any home. Children who forsake their parents’ home, finding no pleasure in the presence and love of their parents or in obeying them, and who still expect to get whatever they ask for, will surely be disappointed. Conversely, children who find the joy of their life in the conversation, will, honor, and love of their parents will find that it is their parents’ joy to grant their requests.
The Scripture says, “all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” The childlike privilege of asking for everything is inseparable from the childlike life under the leading of the Spirit. Those who give themselves to be led by the Spirit in their lives will be led by Him in their prayers, too. They will find that Father-like giving is the divine response to childlike living.
The difficulty of [childlike living] is removed if we think again of the blessed relationship of parent and child. Although there is a great difference among children because of age or talent, a child is basically weak. Because of that, the Lord does not demand that we fulfill the law perfectly. All He requires is our childlike and wholehearted surrender to live with Him in obedience and truth. He asks nothing more, but will accept nothing less. The Father must have the child’s whole heart.”
The Father wants our heart. We show Him that He has our heart by our faith, trust, and obedience. We follow the Spirit’s guidance, which means we are looking for, listening to, and obeying whatever the Spirit guides us to do. Are we, like most adults with many things, overcomplicating being a child of God?
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
How can you embrace your innocence in Jesus today?
How can you be honest with God about your needs?
How can you find joy in your relationship with God today?
How can you more fully embrace your Father-child relationship with God?
How can you give the Father your whole heart?
How would being childlike affect your prayer life?