The Greatest of These

A three-year-old girl danced to the music in church last Sunday.  She ran to the front, leaping, pirouetting, and hopping with unrestrained joy. She twirled and threw her little arms into the air, not stopping until the music was done.  

That little child cared little if someone would see her, make fun of her, or berate her.  She, with the dancing feet, was a joy to behold and put a smile on everyone’s face.  

I think God wants us to be like that little child. It tells us so in His Word.

“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 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. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:2-4 (KJV)

When I think of the kingdom of heaven, I will always remember that little one who danced into my heart in those few moments on a Sunday morning. 

Jesus loved the little children. 

In Mark chapter 10 of the Bible we learn that, “they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”  Mark 10:13-15 (KJV)

In our sophisticated and educated society, people wonder why they should come as a little child.  I once heard it said that the Gospel is so simple that it confounds the wise.  God wants us to grasp his truths with the simple faith of a little child.

Will you come as a little child and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven?

Photos from Wikipedia Commons 

Small girl by Heather Katsoulis 

Small girl with cherries by John Russell