Episode #399 Childlike, Not Childish – Becoming Childlike

Hey, friend. Today we're exploring a fun question: What does mature faith recover from childhood rather than leave behind?

Jesus commends being like children. Children are great, but they're also loud and impulsive, and young kids are often sticky, and children aren't particularly well known for making wise long-term decisions. And so Jesus isn't saying, "Everything a kid does, do that," but there is something that He commends to us about the approach of a child. And this is often likened to being childlike, not childish. And so we're gonna wonder about that together in today's episode, and then we're gonna take the conversation to God and talk with Him more about it. What could God be inviting us to recover as we grow in being childlike?

The main passage of scripture I wanna share with you today is from Mark chapter 10, and it's verses 13 through 16. I'll read it in the ESV. It says, "And they were bringing children to Him," Jesus, "that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me. Do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And then He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them."

Kids are often really good receivers. They receive food and shelter and teaching and help and comfort and gifts. They typically aren't required to earn their place in the family. They get to come and receive as participants who are poured into, and they're so good at receiving. They're so good at coming with their needs and asking for help.

When I think about my own journey, I can recognize that I have not always been good at receiving from God. I really thought He had a lot of achieving that He wanted from me, more than He wanted me to simply receive what He offered. And even in my adult years, I can recognize that I can feel uncomfortable receiving things if I don't feel like I've earned them. But receiving God's kingdom doesn't require any earning from us. It's a purchase that Jesus already made. It's a gift that we can receive from Him.

I think about another time when He commended being childlike to His disciples, and this is in Matthew 18, verses 1 through 4. And they're arguing about who's the greatest, and it says, "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

Jesus' disciples were concerned about status, and Jesus responds by drawing their attention to a child. He overturns their assumptions about greatness. That's startling in our cultural contexts, but even more so in the first century culture, to pull in a kid and say, "This is greatness. Become like children, and that's how you'll enter the kingdom."

And as I was thinking about this, I started thinking about my younger years as a Christian, because I came to Christ as a child. But I had a childish way of viewing spiritual maturity, and I wouldn't have necessarily had the words for it, but I really thought that if I grew enough spiritually, that would mean I would be less and less dependent on God. I would know how to make decisions correctly on my own. It just felt like I'll just know what to do more.

Spiritual maturity doesn't mean needing God less. We don't ever graduate from our dependence on God. We grow into it. And so it was childish for me to think, "Oh, when I'm more spiritually mature, I'll just have it all together, and I won't need God."

But it is childlike that as I grow in relationship with Him, I come to Him more quickly. I repent more easily. I ask for His help, and my struggles are not the same as they were in the past. There is growth. There is maturity that happens. But my reliance on Him is stronger today than ever because I'm getting to know Him more.

There's so many things that are represented by children that we can edit out of our relationships with God. Kids are curious, and they have tons of questions. They're good at play and wonder and sharing things they delight in and making mistakes and trying again. And we get to be those that are free enough to relate to God as His beloved kids.

And so I actually have two questions for us today, because we don't want to fall into that achieving posture. We want to receive what God would offer us.

And so here's the first question:

God, what have I outgrown that you want me to recover?

And when He brings something to your mind or your heart, causes you to remember something or notice, then go to the second question:

God, how can I receive that from you as your child?

And follow that conversation with Him wherever He leads.

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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