Matthew 10:15 - It's a Small World . . .

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Children are treasures we don't often appreciate in the fullest.  Children come to us in many different ways:   precocious; mischievous; joyful; bashful; stubborn; affectionate; boisterous; good-natured; naughty; and any other number of ways.  I'm sure you can think of a few adjectives yourself.   We tell them to be seen and not heard.  We expect them to sit and play quietly.   We try to mold them into "little adults", make them like us.  (oops!  isn't that what Jesus is trying to do with us?)  

What do children do when you take them to a parade?  They wiggle and squirm and crawl and shove and maneuver themselves in anyway possible to the front of the line so they can get the full, complete, unobstructed view of the parade.  They pull away from you any way they can to get where they want to be.    Jesus saw the children from this perspective. 

And so, we take our cue from these little ones and become what Jesus saw.  The first thing he saw was expectancy.   They did whatever it took to get to the front row because they were expecting something wonderful.  They were drawn by the gentleness, love and compassion they heard in His voice.  They anticipated something good and they were going after it.

When the children got where they wanted to be, they were full of wonder.  Their eyes were probably as big as saucers as Jesus lifted them one by one, caressed them, kissed them, blessed them.  Oh, the awe of being enfolded in the arms of gentleness and mercy!  Of being accepted and loved with no reservations!  Oh, such sweet, sweet joy! 

The children didn't care what they had to do to get what they wanted.  They didn't care who saw them or heard them or got pushed out of the way or got their toes stepped on or anything. They were focused on Jesus and they were going to Him no matter what it took to get there.  They were free from all self-consciousness.  They didn't give so much as an eye-blink to what anyone thought of them.  They had absolutely no pride.  And they attained their goal.

This is what Jesus said we MUST be in order to enter heaven.  Expectant, full of wonder and joy, and free from all self-consciousness as we live our lives day by day.  Not allowing anything, anything at all, to hinder us from getting closer to Jesus. 

What are you allowing to get in your way, to stop you from being right up on the lap of Jesus?  What obstacles do you need to overcome?

"Lord Jesus, free me from the things that hinder.  Remove the stumbling blocks that would keep me from you.  I give you my pride and selfishness, my lack of meekness and humility; make me like you, Jesus.  I give you permission to create in me the attitude of a child for you.  Sweet Savior, change my heart.  Amen"

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

Matthew 18:2-6

Psalm  18:27
            149:4
Ephesians 4:2
James 4:10
1 Peter 5:6