See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

                                                                                                                       1 John 3:1 

It is a common misnomer. Often, we hear people refer to all of mankind by saying things such as, “We are all children of God.” This is not actually the case. We have all been made in the image of God meaning that we are all God’s creation, but in order to be called a child of God, we have to have a spiritual rebirth…we have to be born again (John 3:3). There are two types of people in this world, those who are saved and those who are not. The Bible refers to them as believers and unbelievers (John 3:18). Today’s passage invites us to celebrate the reality that, as believers, we are the children of God. But it also points out that the unbelieving world does not recognize this distinction because they do not know God.

Two of my favorite passages involving Jesus and children are both found in the Gospel of Matthew. Consider the following scene: 

Then some children were brought to Him (Jesus) so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

                                                                                                             Matthew 19:13-15 

What do you see when you look into the eyes of innocent children? I see the love of God. When we consider our childhoods, do we remember the carefree days in which our play was uninterrupted (except for school) and the summer days seemed so long. Awakening at the crack of dawn, we would grab our bikes and head for whatever destination we had predetermined the night before. Life was so great and it was because we had not yet gotten caught up in the evil and negativity that was in the world.

But then we grew up and while learning responsibility and developing maturity is a good thing, as believers, we are not suppose to lose the wonder and amazement that we had as children. When Jesus says, “For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” He wasn’t indicating that adults do not enter into the kingdom of heaven. I believe that He was pointing to the innocence and purity of heart that we find in children. In order for us to completely understand and embrace the love of God, we have to jettison any doubt, cynicism, and trepidation that we may have developed as adults. And that leads us to our second scene involving Jesus and children: 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

                                                                                                               Matthew 18:1-3 

The disciples were inquiring about ranking in the kingdom of heaven. As adults, it is so tempting for us to think that God evaluates in the same way that mankind does. But this is not the case at all. Consider the following passages:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

                                                                                                               1 Samuel 16:7 

…but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong…                                                                       

                                                                                                       1 Corinthians 1:27 

I believe that these passages are extremely relevant when evaluating Jesus’ answer to His disciples regarding rank in the kingdom. God isn’t looking for the things that mankind often holds in high honor such as pedigree, ability, and holding positions of power. God is looking inwardly, directly into the heart of an individual. He is weighing not just our actions but the motives, beliefs, and attitudes that are behind them.

Jesus answered His disciple’s question with this statement, “Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” I believe that these two items go hand in hand. To be converted (born again) we must come to God as a child would come to their parent. Humility and genuineness of heart are the prevailing characteristics that God is looking for in someone, not only for salvation but also in service to Him.

He compares entrance and ranking in the kingdom to that of being “like a child.” Jesus isn’t instructing to be childish rather we are to have hearts that are pure and innocent like those we find in children. We are to live in a trusting, loving, and hopeful way, proving ourselves to be children of God.

Have you been converted? As you fulfill your adult responsibilities, are you living in the security of knowing your loving, heavenly Father? Let’s not lose the wonder and majesty that come from living life as though we were looking through the eyes of a child!