Be Like a Child

Do you sometimes feel like a child? Do you act like a child? Do you experience exhilaration, surprise, and pure joy like a child? Or are you an old fuddy duddy who frowns and prefers not to be excited or surprised? What if you needed to be like a child? Would that change your attitude?

As we grow older, being surprised and jumping for joy often takes a backseat to work and keeping a level head. The world of adults can be very serious and can weigh us down. Our attitudes can be one of focus, determination, and we can experience depression.

Jesus tells us we need the attitude of little children. That attitude has many facets to it. One facet is that of pure joy and excitement. We are to be overjoyed that we have a Savior. We are to be excited to know that we have been saved from the worst possible place we can imagine and given an inheritance beyond our wildest dreams.

Second, we are to have the faith of a little child. Think of a small child who is afraid of water, but Dad is in the water and promises to catch her. She trusts Dad with all her heart, so she jumps. He catches her and she has a big smile on her face. Not only that, but she asks Dad to put her on the side of pool so she can do it again.

Third, because of the trust the child has, he will follow Mom anywhere. Mom tells him they need to go to the doctor. He is afraid of doctors and the smells of a doctors’ office. But Mom reassures him it will be alright. He follows her into the doctor’s office and discovers the doctor is there to help him. By following his Mom, he finds his faith is confirmed.

I pray we all accept Jesus like a little child. I pray we are excited to see what He will do in our lives. I pray each one of us put our faith in Him and follow wherever He leads us. Be excited. Be surprised. Experience pure joy. Have the faith of a child. Put your faith in Jesus. Follow Him.

Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called the children to him and 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.”