“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:13 NAS

I have always been amazed by the story Jesus used in Matthew chapter eighteen to illustrate to His disciples the need for us to remain child like in our Christian faith.
In this story, the disciples asked Jesus who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven? Jesus took a child and placed him in their midst and said: “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven”. He used a child to teach them the lesson of how all of this works. It’s not about who’s the greatest but rather who is the most child like. Humble, teachable, submissive, and full of wonder.

You see, these were those who were to become the newly formed leadership of what Jesus called the Church (Matthew chapter sixteen of what was revealed to Peter) and that they would carry the message of the Gospel into all the earth.

In order for them to do that, their pride of being ‘first’ or ‘the greatest’ had to go. They would soon all learn that “The greatest among you will be servant of all”, and that “the first would be last and the last shall be first” Jesus said. That’s how it works in the kingdom of God. Even as we grow and mature in our walk with Him, may we never loose our wonder. To remain child like in our understanding of who God is.

I have come to learn that ever child I have ever met at a certain age they all seem to be eager to learn. Some sort of hunger for knowledge. No matter what it is. They all seem to have an eagerness to learn or to know how things work and why.

This become so real to me when Josiah, our son was born. The months and years to follow, each time he would look into my eyes, I saw that ‘need to know’ glance as he looked back at me. So pure. So trusting. Priceless! And it has taught me, I believe that’s how we are to be always with our heavenly Father. Emptied of pride, humble, brave, daring to try new things, full of faith and willing to learn from Him. Even when we don’t have things all figured out, He is right there to catch us if we fall. And He is there to teach us the things we need to know. The key is to remain child like in our faith. And to believe that what He is showing us is possible! May we never loose our wonder of why!

~ Dan Ecker