Becoming Like Children

It’s been a while since I mentioned our Matthew Bible Memory challenge.  So here’s a reminder:  alongside the Matthew sermon series, we’re focusing on one verse per chapter—currently 18:3, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (All 28 memory verses are given on the 11-22-2022 blog post at goshenbaptist.org.)

So, Jesus says it’s necessary for us to become like children if we are to enter God’s kingdom—that is, if we are to become subjects of King Jesus and live under his awesome eternal reign.  Or in other words, if we are to be born again, be saved, and receive eternal life, we must become like children.

Is this a way of suggesting that we’re saved by works—by what we do?  No.  Becoming like a child, as Jesus clarifies in 18:4, involves “humbling” ourselves.  That means accepting the status of the powerless and needy (rather than clutching at “greatness”! (18:1)).  It’s the opposite of self-advancement, or work-for-wages, or seeking gain on the basis of deserving.

Self-humbling is a “non-work”; it’s the recognition that our effort gets us nowhere.  It’s another way to describe the contrite prayer of confession together with a trusting appeal for mercy.  The childlike humility of Matthew 18:3-4 acknowledges our absolute spiritual poverty; it accepts that we’re helpless “little ones” who need Jesus’ life-sustaining care … or all is lost.

Gavin Ortlund’s 2023 book title is apt:  Humility:  The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness. Humble hearts depend on Jesus for life (now and forever), and also for any comfort, peace, assurance, esteem (etc.) that we need.  And so, we can forget ourselves (or as Jesus says in 16:24, deny ourselves), look at the bearers of God’s image in front of us, put their needs ahead of our own, and bless them (Phil. 2:3-5).  We’re not saved by works, but real faith in Jesus Christ does lead to good works—including joyful deeds of love rooted in self-forgetfulness.  Is that how it is with your heart?