This post originated from my daily study, where I began reading Matthew Chapter 18 Verse 3.

3.Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4.Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5.Whoever receives on little child like this in My name receives Me.

In verse three it appears Chirst is saying we need to revert to some child like characteristics in order to position ourselves to receive and enter the Kingdom of God. Now before we dig into the chid like characteristics, we need to deal with the possible contrandictory verse people may use to dispute this revelation.

1 Corinthians Chp:13 Ver:11

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child,  but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

If you read this verse out of context it seems to refute the words of Christ in Matthew 18, telling us to convert to a child like character. As in everything in the bible you need to read verses before and after to understand the context in which the statement was made. Paul was speaking of love the greatest gift of all. In this chapter he was describing how the mere actions of love does not result in love. He gave a description of the characteristics of love and then he began to describe a time where we will be perfected in love. That our love would mature from a child like love to a love mature enough to embody the characteristics he described in the scriptures above. Paul insinuates in these verses that a time is set aside for that transition see verse 9,10 and 12 below.

9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10.But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.11. When I was a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12.For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then i shall know just as I also am known.

Therefore Chirst’s request for us to be child like in our approach to God is separate from the meaning of 1 Corinthians 13:11. Paul was referring to the way we love developing and maturing to the state he described in that chapter at an appointed time.

Okay now that we have cleared this up we can dig into the revelation I received in regards to having a child like approach to God. There were three things that stood out to me when reading that verse;

1. First thing that caught my eye was the use of the word ‘verily’ by Christ. It is used to depict the speaker’s seriousness that the statement they were going to make was true. In other words the concept Christ was about to mention is important. He was emphatically stating there were no work arounds to receiving the Kingdom of heaven, other than in a child like posture toward God.
2. Christ used the word converted, which means ’cause to change in form, character, or function’. He was interested in a permanent conversion of someones character toward God, to a more child like posture.
3. He is not only intersted in the conversion, but matching the character with the title Child of God.

This made me curious, what was it that God really saw in the character of children that he wanted us as adults to literally revert to. This was so important to him that he withheld the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven for those who chose to walk the path of reverting to a childlike state in their relationship with God. This led me to observe and explore some of the characteristics of children that were around me and my findings were as follows;

• They love blindly seeing no color.
• They exhibit wonder over the smallest of  mysteries, flowers, bugs etc.
• They don’t hold grudges but are easy to forgive.
• They don’t like hurting or seeing people hurt.
• They love to stick close to their parents, from whom they derive comfort and safety.
• They competely trust and have faith in their loved ones.
• Even in wrong doing they show their innocense, because of their lack of understanding.
• They live to enjoy life, laugh and play.
• They speak their minds.
• They are eager to learn new things that make them appear grown up.
• They never see dangers their focus is only on playing.
• When they are in trouble they call or run to their parents immediately.
• They copy their parents with a desire to be like them.
• They humble themselves to the descipline and direction of their parents.
• They lack self control sometimes.
• They are explorers looking to discover the next thing.
• Children are not ashamed to bear all to their parents; physically and emotionally. There is no shame, fear or obstacles.
• They are free around their parents to be who they are.

After observing these characteristics of children, I see now why Christ said what he did. As adults we become prideful over the little knowledge and understanding we aquire in our life experiences. We formulate prejudices based on the limited interactions we have with others, also based on what trusted people tell us. We fight over power and position and we care more for how we look to people, rather than ho we truly are inside. We strive to acuumulate more and share less. We laugh less, take things too serious and forget life is to be lived and not managed. One of the keys to the kingdom of Heaven lies within the heart of a child. Interview your child or nieces or nephews to gain their perspective on life. Then consider your approach to see where you can learn from them.

I truly believe God desires to return to the garden of eden and commune with us as he did with Adam. Adam was naked emotionally and physically, completely open to God in a child like manner as he lived with God in Eden. He wants us to return to that innocense of trusting in him, loving him, needing him, calling for him, relying on him with no regard for anything else. As a child does, leaving the basic requirements food, shelter, protection etc up to their parents, so should we trust God for the same. Children are illogical thinkers according to our standards, but their thought process is not yet tainted by the conventional boundaries that are placed on us by the opinion and beliefs of this world. A belief system that is based on limited understanding. Children don’t see circumstances, finances, bills or deadlines, their belief in their parents ability to provide blinds them to those carnal things. Therefore their faith to ask the impossible comes natural.