Acting Like a Child
Richard Bradley
Matthew 18:1-5
No doubt you've heard this statement - ''Acting like a child'' - before. Sure you have because we've all had this said to us by someone at one time or another - whether we thought we deserved it or not! Taken at face value, this statement implies some pretty negative connotations and can be extremely derogatory and insulting. However, when we look at today's text we can't help but notice that this is not the way Jesus would have used it. From His lips - ''Acting like a child'' - would have been one of His greatest complements.
It goes without saying that God's people need to act like children. We're not talking about how kids act in Walmart but how God's people act when they've been changed by the blood and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 18:1-5
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ''Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?''
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3 and said, ''Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Notice how today's text describes believers who act like children.
ACTING LIKE A CHILD REQUIRES REFORMATION
3 and said, ''Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are
converted
and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
The word ''to convert'' means ''to twist around'' or to ''reverse one's course'' and go in the opposite direction. The question is, ''how is this accomplished?'' The answer is simple. It's God's power that provides us with the ability to change, to become something different for Christ. This what salvation is and this is what salvation does. We cannot be what we've always been and do wha ...
Richard Bradley
Matthew 18:1-5
No doubt you've heard this statement - ''Acting like a child'' - before. Sure you have because we've all had this said to us by someone at one time or another - whether we thought we deserved it or not! Taken at face value, this statement implies some pretty negative connotations and can be extremely derogatory and insulting. However, when we look at today's text we can't help but notice that this is not the way Jesus would have used it. From His lips - ''Acting like a child'' - would have been one of His greatest complements.
It goes without saying that God's people need to act like children. We're not talking about how kids act in Walmart but how God's people act when they've been changed by the blood and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 18:1-5
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ''Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?''
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3 and said, ''Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Notice how today's text describes believers who act like children.
ACTING LIKE A CHILD REQUIRES REFORMATION
3 and said, ''Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are
converted
and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
The word ''to convert'' means ''to twist around'' or to ''reverse one's course'' and go in the opposite direction. The question is, ''how is this accomplished?'' The answer is simple. It's God's power that provides us with the ability to change, to become something different for Christ. This what salvation is and this is what salvation does. We cannot be what we've always been and do wha ...
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