Recapture Your Childlike Faith

Matthew 18:3, "And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Does anyone still marvel over Jesus' statement to become like a child or are we too mature to accept it's simplicity?

Children are willing to believe, to have faith, to love, and to accept love. The complexity of life leads us to question everything, to be guarded, and to be hesitant about receiving love from anyone. The doorway to salvation is opened for those who can enter as a child. The wonder of salvation is open for those who will continue in childlike faith.

This has nothing to do with being childish. It seems like any time I want to refer back to the mentality set forth by Jesus that there is a line of people waiting to tell me that the Bible says we should move out of the elementary principles. I agree...we do knew to move out of the elementary principles but we should never lose the excitement or awe-struck nature of a child. We should never become so "mature" in the faith that we lose the enjoyment of abundant life in Him.

Imagine if every believer came to church on Sunday with the excitement of a child
Imagine how loud the songs would be sung
Imagine how many people would be ready to clap their hands
Imagine how excited we would be to see one another
Imagine how we would never miss the small things

In "The Ragamuffin Gospel", Brennan Manning shares an interesting aspect of Christ's compassion toward people:
"The gentleness of Jesus with sinners flowed from His ability to read their hearts. Behind people's grumpiest poses and most puzzling defense mechanisms, behind their arrogance and airs, behind their silence, sneers, and causes, Jesus saw little children who hadn't been loved enough and who had ceased growing because someone had ceased believing in them."

How many seasoned adults do you know who revert to some childlike behavior? It seems as though life has taught them one valuable lesson: Stop to enjoy life.
Gone is the hustle and bustle of "living".
Gone is the idea that they have to achieve.
Gone is the idea that there is never enough.
In childlike wonder they watch other children playing. They love to be around infancy. I think it's because it reminds them of the greatest adventures of life.

To come to faith in Christ we must come in child-likeness. To uncap all of the wonders of this faith means we must remain childlike in all others aspects. Much of what God is longing to bring us into in this relationship hinges upon our ability to view life as a child. Remove the rules, the barriers, the laws of gravity, and all the things that were taught to us. Regain you childlike faith and trust His heart for you.