Episode Transcript  

One

Story

Twice in the Gospel of Matthew, in pretty rapid succession, Jesus presents children as the model for Christians and heirs to the kingdom of Heaven.

In Matthew 18, the apostles are arguing about which of them is the greatest. As the cure to that stupid sickness, Jesus sets a child in their midst, and says, “Amen, I say to you, unless you become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Then again, in the very next chapter, Jesus reiterates the point. The disciples try to prevent a group of children from bothering Jesus, but Jesus says,  “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 

Now here’s what makes these passages puzzling: we all know that kids often are NOT model Christians. Kids can be just as selfish and obnoxious as anyone else. Usually, when people preach about these passages from the Gospel, they make a big deal about saying that we have to be “child-like,” not “childish.” The problem is that most preachers don’t actually tell us in any detail what the difference is.

So what is the difference? What is the aspect of little children that we’re all supposed to imitate if we want to get into the kingdom of heaven?

Two

Kids are Small. And So are We.

What makes kids different? Well, the most obvious thing that’s distinctive about children is that they’re smaller than the rest of us. It’s very, very simple. Human beings start out short. But, of course, we’re all small. We’re all tiny, really, from the perspective of society, or humanity, or history, or planet Earth, or the universe. And, of course, relative to God, we barely even exist at all.

We all want to believe that we’re a big deal. Like the Apostles, who all wanted to argue about which of them was the greatest. It’s like a bunch of little three-year-old kids trying to flex their biceps and arguing about which of them has the biggest muscles. It’s so funny, from an adult’s perspective. Because kids, at the end of the day, aren’t very strong. Because they’re not very big. And neither are we.

Do we remember that, often enough?

Three

Kids are Young. And So are We.

Something else that sets kids apart, by definition, is that they’re younger than the rest of us. They haven’t been around very long. They’re not very experienced. And, what’s wonderful, they have most of their lives ahead of them. Most of their human development, most of the wonderful surprises that God has in store for them, most of the big changes, all that’s still yet to come.

But of course, that’s true for all of us. Eternity is waiting for us. We haven’t even begun to live. Glory is waiting for us. Transformation and the thrill of plunging into realms far too rich for us to imagine. It’s all ahead of us. For kids, even for happy kids, the best is yet to come. And the same is true for us.

Do we remember that, often enough?

Four

Kids are Dependent on Others for Everything. And So Are We.

A final point about children, they depend on others for pretty much everything. The younger you are, the more you depend on others for all your needs, physical, emotional, cognitive, and for all your development. And of course, the same is true for each of us. Every breath, every heartbeat, every moment, gravity keeps the atoms of our bodies from flying off in different directions - that all comes from God.

Every time our intellect works right and gives us a true insight, that all comes from God. Every time our will chooses the right thing, every time we take delight in something good, that all comes from God. 

A little child is dependent on others for everything. As we are dependent on God. Do we remember that often enough?

Five

Childish vs. Childlike

Kids are bratty when their attitude doesn’t correspond to the truth of their situation. When they act like they’re a big deal, even though they’re so small. When they act like they know everything, even though they’re so young. When they act entitled, even though they depend on the generosity of others for everything. And that’s the difference between adults who are childish and childlike. A child is small. So are we. Do we remember that?

A childish person tries to be more important than everybody else. A childlike person knows how small they are in the big picture, and is happy and humble as a result. A child is young. So are we. Do we remember that? A childish person pretends they know everything, that they’re knowledgeable and experienced enough to be cynical. A childlike person knows they don’t know much, and is excited for the future, which God has promised will be joyful and enlightening. A child is dependent. So are we. Do we remember that? A childish person pretends to be self-sufficient. A childlike person smiles up at God in gratitude for all they’ve been given. Then the childlike person raises their hands up to God, and asks Him to please pick them up. Because they know they are small, and young, and not self-sufficient. But they also know they are loved and cared for. 

And so they are happy and at peace. Which is why Christ says that to them, to the childlike, that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.

Lord, grant us the humility of knowing our littleness, our youth, and our dependence on you. And grant us the joy and the peace of giving ourselves to your Father and Mother, so that we may fully rest in their love.  

Suggested Resolutions:

Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you.

• Keep in mind your own smallness, your own dependence on God in everything you do. Like a little child, lift your arms to God, ask for help simply, trusting Him fully, and rest in the knowledge that you are loved.

• Trust that the best is yet to come, living with hope because God’s greatest gifts are still ahead.

A group of Christian millennials think they’ve fixed the news…

It’s called The Pour Over, and it has two goals:

1. Keep its readers informed about world events

2. Keep its readers focused on Christ

That means providing politically neutral coverage of events and pairing it with brief Biblical reminders.

The question is… are they hitting the mark? See what you think, subscribe in just one click.

If you enjoyed this meditation, subscribe below.