1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes one such child in My Name welcomes Me.
(Matthew 18:1-5, NIV) In Stave Five of Charles Dickens’s classic, A Christmas Carol, after Scrooge had been changed through his spiritual encounters, he celebrated with whimsical laughter. He said to himself, “I don’t know what day of the month it is! I don’t know how long I’ve been among the Spirits. I don’t know anything. I’m quite a baby. Never mind. I don’t care. I’d rather be a baby. Hallo! Whoop! Hallo here!” The man, who once prided on his stern maturity, was acting like a child, filled with giddiness and uncharacteristic ignorance. In Matthew 18, Jesus commended childlikeness. His disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Perhaps they were hoping that His answer would affirm their own greatness. Jesus’s response was not what they expected. Calling a child to their midst, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Unless you change and become like children . . . sounds rather like Scrooge in the final chapter. Yet, in calling us to childlikeness, Jesus was not thinking of giddiness or ignorance. Rather, we are to be children in our humility. The path to greatness in God’s kingdom begins as we humble ourselves, putting aside our desire for greatness. In our humility we are set free to welcome all people in God’s name, even children, who lack power and privilege. Our notion of greatness will be reversed in the kingdom of God as we follow the way of Jesus, the servant. Jesus entered this world in utter humility and vulnerability. We can keep Christmas well by putting aside pretense and privilege, becoming like a child, remembering that God also came among us as a Child. In what ways might you experience childlikeness during Advent and Christmas? When you hear Jesus say that to enter the kingdom of heaven you have to become like a child, how do you respond? How can you be more open and dependent on God and his grace? Recall some of your own childhood experiences of Christmas. Then, ask the Lord to help you respond with childlikeness to the good news of Christmas. So much in us do not want to be like a child. We want to be grown up and strong; and in control of life. We want to be well regarded. God calls us to childlikeness, not presumptuous maturity. To humility, not grandiosity. God calls is to rely on Him, not self-sufficiency. He invites us to trust Him simply, as young children trust their parents. Dear God, help us to come to You as a child, so that we might live under Your rule. Comments are closed.
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