Topic: Like a Child [Joyce Meyer Devotional 28 May 2020]
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[Jesus] called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.— Matthew 18:2-4 (AMPC)
In Luke 18:17 (AMPC), Jesus talked about the importance of being childlike when He said,
Truly I say to you, whoever does not accept and receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child [does] shall not in any way enter it [at all].
As we can see, The Amplified Classic Bible translation of Matthew 18:3 states that the defining attributes of a child are these: trusting, lowly, loving, and forgiving. How much more would we enjoy our lives if we operated in those four traits? Think about it: Children believe what they are told. Some people say children are gullible, or that they believe anything, no matter how ridiculous it sounds. But children are not gullible—they are trusting. It is a child’s nature to trust unless he or she has experienced something that teaches them otherwise.
Another thing we can all see in children is that they enjoy life. A child can find a way to enjoy almost anything. A child can turn work into a game, so they can enjoy it. I remember one time when I asked my son (who was about 11 or 12 at the time) to sweep the patio. Not long after, I looked outside and saw him dancing with the broom to the music playing on the headset he was wearing. I thought, Amazing! He’s managed to turn sweeping into a game. If he had to do it, he was determined to enjoy it. We should all have that attitude. We may not choose to dance with a broom, but we can choose an attitude of enjoying each moment in a new way.
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, please teach me and help me become more childlike in the way I trust You, and in the way I enjoy my life. Thank You for strengthening my faith and restoring my sense of fun. In Jesus’ Name, amen.