Like Little Child (Matthew 18:3)
When Jesus warned about His death, the disciples asked Him this question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The Lord’s reply was shocking. “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The issue was not about who would be the greatest in heaven, but whether you can even enter it.
1. Changing
The Lord said that you must change. You should not stop after you repented once, but you should change yourself to be suitable for the kingdom of heaven. Repentance does not only refer to understanding your sins and changing, but it is realizing you have no means whatever to be righteous before God and acknowledging your spiritually bankruptcy. Since those who do this know that they are worthless, they do not assert or demand anything for their own glory, but they offer themselves for God’s work.
2. Little children
When the Lord said you should become like little children, it was not because children have some virtue. Little children in those days were socially very low. ‘Becoming like little children’ means acknowledging that you are worthless and becoming satisfied by God’s grace. God regards simple faith like this as worthy to be led into heaven.
3. The setting for heaven
Humility is not a requirement for your sins to be forgiven, but it is the basic setting for the kingdom of heaven. God can give you the legal qualifications to enter heaven, but if your personality is not suited to its character, you will be unable to enter it. It is like the person who tried to attend the wedding feast without wedding clothes. In contrast, those who completely trust in God’s grace like little children and accept the Lord’s guidance will easily enter heaven, and the Lord will honor these people first.
September 12, 2021
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
