Learning from Children (Friday Devotional)

‘At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”’

- Matthew 18:1-4

Members of my church and/or regular readers of these devotionals have undoubtedly noticed that I’ve become one of those pastors who can’t let a “my kid did a cute thing the other day” story go by without using it as illustrative material in a biblical message. My sermons and devotionals probably seem at times like the equivalent of pulling out my billfold and showing his latest pictures.

There are a few reasons for that. First, since I take care of my son during the workday, most of my personal illustrations are going to involve him by default—after all, unless he’s asleep, he’s with me for basically anything I experience. Second, well, he is pretty cute, and I am awfully proud of him. But third and most importantly, I’m finding every day that constantly being with a small child is changing my faith for the better.

Where I sometimes approach newness—new experiences, new ideas, new people—with suspicion, my son comes to newness with joyful curiosity. Where I sometimes feel obligated to hide what I’m feeling for the sake of maintaining appearances, my son is an open book of smiles and tears. Perhaps most valuably, where I can walk through a crowd of people utterly absorbed in myself—my thoughts, my responsibilities, my plans—he seems to see every person as a friend-in-waiting, extending his hand for a high five any time someone gets close enough. In ways big and small, he walks through life differently than I do.

Of course, we can’t live like children in every way—part of being an adult is putting away childish things and replacing them with the responsibilities of adulthood. But unfortunately, we tend to make the mistake of conflating maturity with cynicism, acting as though the virtues of faith, hope, and love are kid’s stuff. Somewhere along the line, we start to grow out of the curiosity, sincerity, and joyfulness of childhood.

Jesus said that those who wish to enter the kingdom of God must change and become like children. In order to follow God faithfully, we must be willing to lift the scales from our eyes and let some light in. Instead of fearing our neighbors, we must be willing to take the risk of loving them. Instead of falling into world-weariness, we must choose hope.

In an insincere world, adopting the innocent sincerity of a child is a conscious choice, one that Christ calls us to make. But it is by doing so, by seeing the world through new eyes, that we are able to believe in the possibility of redemption. If our job as adults is to teach children the basics, from how to eat to their A-B-C’s, maybe they can teach us something even more fundamental.