Becoming Like Children
…Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:3 NRSV).
In reading through the book of Exodus, my commentary notes mentioned how the people of Egypt referred to their land as “Black Land.” The term was because four months out of the year, the Nile would flood and deposit a tremendous amount of dark, rich soil everywhere. As inconvenient as a four-month flood was, they benefited greatly from it, eventually becoming an agricultural giant in that area.
It made me wonder about times when I feel like my life is being flooded with unwanted, inconvenient events, people, or circumstances. In the big picture, will they cause me to change for the better, to grow and become fruitful?
There is a saying, “Nothing changes until you get tired of the way things are.” We can’t change others, and often can’t change our situation, but we can change ourselves. Often, it is our attitude about something that causes more difficulty than the actual problem. Do you believe that? I haven’t always been willing to embrace it, especially while wading through tough times. But after that, hindsight often indicates more truth than I’d like to admit.
Think about times you have dreaded doing something, and you end up stressing about it until you do it. After you finally did it, have you ever realized it wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be? I have found I can learn from those moments if I’m paying attention. A big part of maturing in life is applying what we learn from mistakes.
Jesus words to His disciples about becoming like children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven in the above Scripture were really about humility. He may have been saying they needed to be humble enough to be teachable if they were going to experience the fullness of God’s Kingdom. This, of course, applies to those of us who are following Christ now as well. The basis of true spiritual formation must come from humility, which is a proper understanding of our worth in relation to God and others.
So, let’s take inventory with some thoughts to consider. Do you need more compassion? Or perhaps that task for work you have been procrastinating on could tell you something about yourself. What do you base your self-esteem on: what other people think, how well you perform, or what God says about you? You may have been flooded with changes and challenges recently. Do you find yourself wanting to stay one step removed from things or people, yet holding strong opinions about them?
How is that working for you? Are you tired of the way things are? If so, it may be time for a change! Jesus often said, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you.’ Have you considered joining a Clarity group? While getting to know other people who have similar thoughts, you might find some encouragement and growth.
REFLECTION – Write out a prayer to God, sharing your heart with Him. What stands out to you that you’d like to pursue and learn more about? Are there things that came to your mind that you need forgiveness for? And remember to include any questions you have. Prayer isn’t meant to be a monologue, but a dialog. We just need to listen to His input.
My son [or daughter] preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet (Proverbs 3:21-24 NIV)
