Grow Up. . . Into Little Children

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18: 3)

When I read this passage, I was really confused.

Am I supposed to be dependent? Ignorant? Easy to please, easy to fool? What does it mean to become like "a little child"?

Let us establish what the Kingdom of heaven is all about:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

Some may quibble about the difference between "Kingdom of God" and "Kingdom of Heaven", yet they are one in the same. God reigns in heaven, no doubt (Isaiah 66: 1).

This Kingdom we receive as a gift:

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32)

What does the Spirit of God have to do with becoming a little child? Paul explains:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 15-17)

How does this occur? One verse in the Gospel of John answers this question perfectly:

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 )

Becoming a little child is all about being born again -- and this is something that we do not accomplish or achieve in our own effort, but receive as a gift by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

"To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. " (Galatians 4: 4-5)

When we receive the Spirit of God, we grow up. . .into children of God!