DAILY DEVOTION, May 3, 2021, Be as a little child

 I tell you the truth. You must accept God’s kingdom like a little child, or you will never enter it (Luke 18:17 ICB).

We say that salvation is by faith. Here it seems that redemption is reserved for those who are like a little child. Is this a conflict? I believe the point is this. Little children cannot provide for themselves, and so they must have faith in their parents or some other adult. Children live life without preparing food, buying a house or furniture, making decisions about the future, etc. They trust their parents to provide.

Jesus says we must have a similar attitude. We adults can easily fall into the trap of thinking we can provide for ourselves. When facing life’s most significant matters, we are helpless to provide for ourselves. How can we find forgiveness of sins? How can we earn a place in heaven? Where do we turn when faced with a problem we cannot solve? If we cannot learn to trust God with child-like faith, we will never enter God’s Kingdom.

We need to live life like little children, trusting God to care for us and to provide those spiritual needs we cannot provide for ourselves. We need to thank Him for giving us the ability to meet many temporal needs. Just as children cannot survive without some adult care, we cannot survive without God. The sooner we realize that, the better.

Dear Father, I ask You to set me free from all pride and arrogance. Help me to see that without faith in You and Your Son, I am nothing. Like a child, I cannot provide for those things which are most important.  I want to trust You with child-like faith. Help me, I pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.