Childlike Faith
Greetings! Thank you for joining me! My prayer for you today is that you will receive the revelation the Lord gives in this post, and that it will enable you to walk more victoriously with the Lord in this world. Eric
The Scripture speaks very plainly concerning the requirements of those who will enter into the Kingdom of God. We understand that our salvation comes from our accepting the wonderful sacrifice of Christ, and yet, we see that Jesus gave us a perfect example of the attributes and lifestyle that those who become Christians must have and live by.
Accepting Christ as our Savior is not an ending - it is, quite honestly, only the beginning.
We have recently shared that when we “enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, we become a ‘new creation.’” (January 1, 2025, “New Year, Fresh Start”). Being a ‘new creation’ is multi-faceted for all of us. Since we are all born with a sin nature, to be a ‘new creation’ means that our lifestyle changes. It could mean, for you, that you do not continue to live in sin, you do not place your trust in self or other individuals, or that you do not continue to live a selfish self-centered life. As a ‘new creation,’ the sin nature should no longer rule our lives, our behaviors, attitudes or actions!
When my wife, Donna, accepted Christ at the age of 13, being a shy child, she was surprised when one day a short time later, her older sister approached her and said, “You’re different!” Donna was not aware that there was a noticeable change in her that others could see.
Jesus made two astounding statements to His disciples when they rebuked people who were bringing their little children to Him so He could place His hands on them, Mark 10:14 and 15 reads, “When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." According to the Bible Hub Study Bible, in verse 14, “Jesus is teaching the disciples about the nature of the kingdom of God. When He stated that the kingdom belongs to '“such as these,” He was elevating the qualities of children, as essential for entering into God’s kingdom.”
Often, we complicate our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We can get so caught up in trying to understand what that relationship needs to ‘be’ that we forget the childlike dependence we are to have upon Him and the love that He has for us!
Today, we will delve into what ‘receiving the Kingdom of God like a little child‘ means and how that knowledge should affect our behavior, attitudes and actions.
Before we look at various ‘qualities’ of children which numerous commentaries have listed, I want us to consider Jesus and the example He gave us in being the Son of God. Throughout Scripture, Jesus is seen as relating to God as His Father. In fact, anytime Jesus mentioned God, He stated, “My Father.” When we accept Christ as our Savior, we become children or sons and daughters of God. Thus, even as adults, we should exhibit the same traits as a child of God, that were prevalent in Jesus’ life.
The ‘childlike’ qualities listed in Barnes’ Notes on the Bible are, “the temper and spirit of a child, being teachable, mild, humble, free from prejudice and obstinacy.” Ellicott’s Commentary for English readers added, “simplicity, faith, humility and love.” Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges included “innocence.”
The Greek word for ‘little child’ in Mark 10:15 above is ‘paidion’ and often conveys a sense of trust, innocence, dependency and the need for care and guidance. (Strong’s).
You can see that being or having a childlike faith includes a lot of attitudes and behaviors.
Without the negative influences of adults, a child placed in the company of other children, although possibly noticing differences in race and color, are able to treat others based on character rather than skin color. To them, gender, religion, or social economic status. are not important issues. They simply see other children.
Considering Jesus’ relationship with the Father. We see that Jesus was completely dependent upon Him. (John 8:28). He stated that ”He did nothing on His own initiative and did always those things that pleased His Father.” (John 5:30'8:28 and John 8:29) Time and time again, we read of how Jesus went off by Himself or took some of the disciples with Him to pray to His Father, (Luke 6:12, Luke 11:1, Luke 9:28).
We read of Jesus’ humility in Philippians 2:6-8, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross!”
Jesus gives thanksgiving to His Father for giving revelation to ‘little children’ (untaught and unskilled) rather than to those who think themselves wise and intelligent or clever. (Matthew 11:25). It is easy for the wise and intelligent to become full of pride and forget the dependence they need to place in the Lord.
King David had the right understanding. Psalm 131:1-3 (CSB), “LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too wondrous for me. 2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like a weaned child. 3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forever.”
We also read the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” Moses and King David simply trusted and believed what God revealed to them.
We also read more astounding words of Jesus in Matthew 18: 3 and 4, “And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
“The kingdom of God can be entered by a trusting humble child, in fact, only by one who is like a child.” (Textual notes in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible for Matthew 18:3 and 4.
Jesus lived His entire life in an attitude of humility. We read this description Jesus gave of Himself in Matthew 11:29b, “For I am gentle and humble in heart.”
Proverbs 16:5a,c reveals that “the Lord detests everyone that is proud in heart. And they will not go unpunished.” James 4:6b reads, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Then, in 1 Peter 5:5 we are instructed: “be clothed with humility for God resists the proud.”
Living proof.co/what - is - childlike - faith/, describes those who have childlike faith in this way:
They trust God’s Word. (Psalm 119:130 (Amplified), “The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light; Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).”
They ask questions.
They are teachable. They desire to learn.
They celebrate the awesomeness of God!
They run to Him to receive. Children are excited to receive and they run to receive more of what God has to give.
It is important to note that ‘childlike faith’ is NOT childish faith. A child of God who is full of hope, excitement and joy in Jesus demonstrates childlike faith.
We, as adults, have childlike faith when we see ourselves as God’s children and are totally dependent on Him. Having childlike faith, we trust Him solely for guidance and care. He has also promised that He will meet every need we have. We need not worry about what He has promised to provide. We know that His promises are “Yes and amen.”(Matthew 6:25-34) (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Yes, God, amazingly, because of His love for us, has provided for every physical and spiritual need which we have.
Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Thank God, we were not left to work everything out on our own, He gave us His Holy Spirit to help us in every aspect of our life.
John 14:16 and 17, 26 (NKJV) reads, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ... 26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
Allow God to be God in your life!
You need to choose to be teachable, to depend totally upon Him, be humble, trust Him for guidance and care, lay personal ambition aside, and to be free from malice and prejudice. Be full of faith, humility and love!
I will close with this prayer by Charles Spurgeon, “Deliver us from any sort of reliance upon ourselves, whatever shape that reliance might take, and let our faith in you become more childlike everyday that we live; for, O dear Savior, there is room for the greatest faith to be exercised upon your blessed person and work.”
Unless noted otherwise, all scripture is taken from the New International Version.
CSB Christian Standard Bible
NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible
NKJV New King James Version