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Lessons Children Teach Us: Entering God's Kingdom with Childlike Faith

Children have a remarkable way of teaching us profound truths about life and faith. In reflecting on Jesus' words in Luke 18:15-17 about entering the Kingdom of God as a child, we discover that becoming "child-like" opens us to the fullness of life that God intends for each of us.


The Universal Gift of Life

God has created us not merely for existence, but for abundant life—a life overflowing with joy, love, wonder, mystery, care, and compassion. This is God's universal gift to all people. Yet many never experience this fullness, not because God is withholding it, but because we must recognize and accept these gifts in faith. To truly enter God's Kingdom, we must embrace five essential child-like qualities that open our hearts to divine grace.


1. Innate Love for Our Heavenly Parent

Just as children are born with an instinctive love and desire to bond with their parents, we are created with a spiritual predisposition to connect with God. No one teaches an infant to cling to its mother—it's natural, woven into their very being. Similarly, we are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27), designed for relationship with our Creator.

Augustine beautifully captured this truth: "Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." Jesus revealed the unique intimacy of this relationship by calling God "Abba"—Dad—showing us that our Creator is not just a distant judge or master, but our loving Father. Through the Spirit of adoption, we too can cry out "Abba" (Romans 8:14-15).


2. Absolute Trust and Faith

Children possess unwavering trust, believing implicitly in the words of those they love. While adults might call this naivety, children call it faith. They don't demand proof or create elaborate verification processes—if mom or dad says something, they believe it completely.

Scripture consistently calls us to this same radical trust. Proverbs 3:5 instructs us to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding." Faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1, is "assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things unseen." The most precious experiences in life—forgiveness, acceptance, God's presence, and the promise that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)—require faith because they cannot be rationally proven, only spiritually received.


3. Dependence and Receptivity

While children may proudly declare "I do it myself," they quickly call for help when needed: "Help me!" Before pride takes root, children willingly receive assistance without feeling inadequate. They accept grace as a gift of love rather than a sign of personal defect.

Children naturally accept that they are loved and cared for without trying to earn it. They live worry-free because they trust and remain open to receiving provision. Jesus invites us into this same freedom, reminding us not to worry about life's basic needs because our heavenly Father values us far more than the birds He feeds (Matthew 6:25-27).


4. Natural Loving and Caring

Children are instinctively loving and caring. Dolls are cuddled without instruction, hugs flow freely in preschool classrooms, and friendship blossoms naturally on playgrounds. Surrounded by love, children naturally share it freely and experience the joy of connection.

This reflects Jesus' greatest commandments—to love God and love our neighbors (Mark 12:29-31). As Jesus told His disciples, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Love begets love; the more openly we love others, the more we find ourselves loved in return.


5. Wonder and Openness to the Impossible

Children live in an open-ended world where predetermined rules don't limit possibilities. They're innately wired to believe the impossible is possible, expecting the unexpected to break through at any moment.

We live in a God-infused world where our Creator is still actively creating and crafting our future. The resurrection power we celebrate at Easter continues working today, bringing new life and divine surprises. As Psalm 8 reminds us, we serve a majestic God whose glory fills all creation. The problem isn't that God's presence and blessings aren't available—it's that we're often not open to receiving them.


Living the Journey

The path from love to trust to dependence to caring to wonder creates a beautiful progression of spiritual growth. When we embrace these childlike qualities, we open ourselves to the abundant life God desires for us.

Like the father in the closing poem who wished to become "a child like my child here—pure, guileless, trusting," may we all rediscover the childlike faith that leads us into God's Kingdom.


 
 
 

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