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When asked, Jesus stated that someone with childlike faith would be the greatest in heaven. Now, the question is, what does this mean?
Jesus loves everyone, but does He love children more?
The beautiful connection between Jesus and children is a common theme throughout the Bible. It’s been explored and documented across multiple chapters and verses. Such has even cut across Biblical settings and into modern society, where it’s believed and repeatedly propagated that Jesus loves children. When He is a protector for everyone, why is there an emphasis on children?
Jesus Values Children
In many respects, children are better than adults. They may not have more control and understanding of the world they live in, but they see it from a different, brighter, and more beautiful perspective.
However, much of how they’re perceived is focused on what they lack. Simply because they’re young, they’re thought of as less or inferior. But Jesus steps up to remind everyone that it’s not how they are. It’s easy to forget that children’s needs, hopes, dreams, and feelings are as big as adults. They’re perceived in a rather simplistic lens that often minimizes their significance.
Throughout the Bible, Jesus aims to redefine what children are. He teaches a better way to interact with and understand them, reminding adults to still hold a place in their lives for the childlike characteristics they often lose, especially in terms of childlike faith.
What Does It Mean to Have Childlike Faith?
Although this phrase hasn’t appeared in the Scriptures, it captures much of what faith should be.
Childlike faith reflects the positivity associated with what being youthful should be. It’s not about associating faith with immaturity or childishness but rather implying the favorable qualities of children. With a slight shift in perspective, childlike can be associated with innocence and trust, typically reflecting the positive attributes of a child. Hence, regarding childlike faith, this doesn’t entail having a wishy-washy sense of faith. Instead, it means embracing and practicing a more eager outlook toward it.
This is one of the reasons why there’s an emphasis on Jesus loving children.
It isn’t only because the youth is most susceptible to influence, rendering them the best crowd to teach. But it’s also because Jesus sees so much untouched potential in them.
This relationship is better reflected in children’s books such as Rockabye Jesus by Teresa Haven Pelinski. A story of Jesus and children, the book captures how He lifts them and listens closely to their prayers. It shows the very essence of childlike faith and how, to Jesus, this means humility and innocence, a sense of modesty that opens people to accepting their flaws, allowing continuous growth.
How Can People Pursue This Innocence in Faith?
When people think of greatness, they think of the rich and famous – adults who have succeeded in their fields and enjoying the fruits of their labor. How often do they associate greatness with children? How usually do they think of people who grow in wisdom because of endless questions and curiosities?
It’s this childlike humility and kindness that makes people great in Jesus’ eyes. This is what it entails to embrace childlike faith and incorporate it into one’s routines.
Believing God Cannot Lie
Children are very trusting. If someone says something to them, they’ll wholeheartedly believe their word. This lack of suspicion and hesitation is precisely what adults should practice to embrace a childlike faith. It’s about absolutely trusting in Jesus’ Word and His mercy.
This can be challenging. After all, humans will have doubt when things seem improbable, given they’re people of certainty. But how they respond to this doubt will reveal the type of faith they’re practicing.
Asking Questions
Children are inquisitive. They’ll ask question after question, having a seemingly endless train of wonder they want answered. This curiosity is what makes people’s faith childlike. Instead of readily accepting the world as how it is, people should discover more about what meets their eyes. They should be interested in knowing more about Jesus and His plans.
Asking questions such as “What is my purpose? What does Jesus want from my existence?” Jesus wants people to ask him questions, for these draw them closer to Him.
Being Teachable
Children aren’t only susceptible to influence, but they’re also teachable. They’re eager to know more about the world and their experiences. A childlike faith makes people believe they have more to learn about Jesus and life regardless of how old they’ve become. They’re asked to be open-minded, to not close their minds to the endless possibilities that the world holds.
Being teachable makes people malleable so that they can become who they’re supposed to be, fulfilling the purpose set to them by Jesus. They’re completed through asking and learning, a cycle that leads to a healthy life.
In the words of Matthew 18, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of Heaven.” Therefore, people need to humble themselves and live in simplicity as children if they wish to enter and be celebrated with Jesus in heaven.
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