Title: Turn around and become like a child
Bible: Matthew 18:1-4
Title: Turn around and be like a child
Matthew 18:1-4 ‘1. Then the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2. Jesus called a little child and set him among them.
3. He said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” - Amen.
The disciples were arguing with each other about who is the greatest in heaven, and then they asked Jesus. At that time, in verse 2 of the text, he called a little child, put him in the middle, and told him to turn and become like little children. So today, Children's Sunday, as adults, we would like to hear the spiritual meaning given by the Lord's words, <Return and become like little children>. The disciples asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus answered that if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven, you must first turn around and become like a child.
Matthew 18:3 He said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
So what kind of little child are you talking about?
The child word here paidivon refers to a very small infant who comes and obeys when an adult calls. I'm not talking about the bad boys of this day and age.
The disciples must have been baffled when they heard the words of the situation where they could not even enter the kingdom of heaven after arguing about how big or small they were in heaven.
As John 3:3 says, a person can enter the kingdom of heaven only after being born again.
What does it mean to turn back and become like little children?
1. To turn around means that you have come a long way to a place you would not have come from
Therefore, first of all, you have to admit that life has come a long way in the wrong way. The word to turn is strevfw, which translates to mean to turn in the opposite direction, to turn, to turn around, to change one's mind.
This is a great life-changing transition in which a person turns to God, accompanied by repentance, not just emotions. You said this because it is a very important thing to use the double negative word that says otherwise, you will never, absolutely, never enter here.
It is that we as Gentiles without even knowing God, we need to turn to God, empty our souls that are polluted with all kinds of lusts and selfishness in the sinful world and the empty culture of devoting our devotion to the wrong things as gods, and empty ourselves.
2. Just as a child completely depends on his parents, who are adults, it means that he should depend entirely on God.
Young children must be looked after, educated and nurtured by adults. And we must take responsibility for all environmental factors and nurture them. A young child knows nothing about cultural responsibilities, but can only rely on adults.
* Last Monday afternoon, it was raining a lot, but on the bus roadside, a nice and pretty child who looked about 3 years old was hugged tightly in her arms, avoiding the rain under her grandmother's umbrella, and being loved comfortably. Even if it is heavy because he likes his grandson, he holds it until the bus arrives. A belief that depends entirely on you, this is how you become like a child. If you live on your own, it is neither faith nor risk.
Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is he who trusts in the Lord and puts his trust in the Lord.”
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
3. It means that children should obey God's will and live as they obey the words of adults.
A child who does not listen is not like a child. On the contrary, an older child who listens well is more lovable. Obedience blesses those who teach.
1 Samuel 15:22 “…obedience is better than sacrifice, and hearing better than the fat of rams.”
The disciples are arguing about who is the greatest in heaven, and finally they hear that they are not obeying the Lord. Indeed, they did not properly follow the instruction given. After being stained with selfishness, pride, and betrayal, on the day of Pentecost, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and barely willing to lay down his life to carry out the ministry of an apostle.
Christian faith begins with obedience to the Word. Faith is not studying God with human wisdom, but obeying the authority of the Word and following it by faith. If I have to give it a human opinion, it just sounds like a childish tone.
That the person who is obedient and submissive like this will increase
Matthew 18:4 “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Philippians 2:8 “And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of a cross.”
That is why our members need to make efforts to return to God with the kindness and obedience that children do to adults at any time. We must strive to become a true believer who has a repentant heart every day, holds on to the Lord's covenant every moment and every day. I have become accustomed to being a stranger by nature, so I have to work harder every day. That is why, when you turn and turn, obey, humble and follow the Lord, just as parents embrace, love, and protect their children, knowing that there will be blessings and guidance, I pray that you and I will turn around and work hard to become children. *