Be Like a Child

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Be Like a Child

Date: Sep. 20, 2015

Passage

Matthew 18:1-14 (ESV)

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 18:3

and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

First, be like little children (1-9). The main characteristic of little children is that they are trusting and unpretentious. If you ask a little child "Who is your daddy?" he will invariably point to him. If you ask further "How do you know?" you will get a puzzled look as if to say "What a silly question. I know he is my daddy because he is!" In the same way, we come to God with simple faith, knowing that because of the cross he is our Father. "They knew with certainty..." (Jn 17:8). And if anyone asks how we know that God is our Father, like little children we respond "Because he is!" This is childlike trust in the finished work on the cross, and it is necessary to be born again and enter the kingdom of heaven. Children are also unselfconscious and as a result unpretentious. A child of God is not aware of the will of God because he is the will of God. Dear children, become what you are - become like little children.

Second, 'little ones' who stray (10-13). Although it is impossible for a believer ('little one') to be eternally lost (Jn 10:28), it is God's set purpose that not even one of his children go astray.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please grant us grace to become like little children, setting aside all sin, even self-awareness; instead, grant us to become unselfconsciously aware only of you.

One Word: Become like little children.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Acts 5:1-16

Key Verse: 5:3

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

Today's Question

Did our first parents remain as they were created?

See answer and references