Childlike Faith
Jesus was the kind of man children were comfortable being around. Matthew 18 recounts a time when the disciples were discussing amongst themselves which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus used the opportunity to teach them about faith.
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 (Matthew 18:1-4). While the disciples were concerned about their own greatness, Jesus pointed to the child as the example.
So, is childlike faith some kind of blind faith? Absolutely not. Children are smart, they have thoughts about things. They're discerning about people and situations. Something they sense about a person might cause them to hesitate or shy away. Jesus wasn't like that. Children were comfortable coming to him.
Children have questions, which oftentimes are 'Why?' We have questions too. Sometimes we don't understand how God works, why things happen or is it really all true. But our faith doesn't come from our head, but from our heart, based on the reasons in our head. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
Faith is the essence of the Christian life, presented throughout the Bible as an absolute necessity. Jesus exhorted the disciples (and us) to seek to possess a childlike modesty in addition to their faith. Children are characteristically humble and teachable. Those who willingly take the lowest position are the greatest in heaven’s eyes.
A humble, unpretentious faith could rightly be called a “childlike faith.” When Jesus wanted to bless the children, He said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Mark 10:14–15). Children receive gifts with openness and joy. That type of happy authenticity should be the basis of the faith that moves us to receive God’s gift in Christ.
Are you ready to receive it?
