Little Children -or- Child-Like
“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” [Matt. 18.3]
I had a friend say something to me once about his “child-like” faith. My friend thought it important that faith be unwavering and, even, perhaps without understanding – as he perceived a child might have faith. I accepted that as her understanding, but somehow it didn’t make sense to me. [Yes I’m speaking in a gender neutral manner about my friend.] I considered that, perhaps, my friend was confusing what Jesus said about coming into the Kingdom initially as a little child with continuing to live in a child-like manner.
On another day Jesus said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” [Matt. 10.16] So, on one day Jesus says be “little children” and on another day says be “wise as serpents”. That would indicate that He requires that we think it through and figure out for ourselves and apply much more than “child-like” understanding. And the reality is that no matter where we are in our walk, the deceiver tries to throw his “monkey wrench”. So I think that applies here as we discuss the difference between “little children” and “child-like”
More on that in Part II
A Mark Goodson - Bill Todman Production