Several years ago, I was teaching a group of first graders about the doctrine of Christ in a series called “Jesus Is…” In week #2, we looked at Scripture which proves that Jesus is not only God’s one and only Son,but that He is in fact God. I will never forget the sweet girl sitting next to me. She grabbed my hand, looked up at me with a big smile on her face, and exclaimed, “Wait a minute! Jesus is God?!” Her wonder and her joy…her “aha” moment…. This was such a picture of what childlike faith looks like.

But is childlike faith only for a child?

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Jesus tells the disciples not to prevent the children from coming to Him because the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children. It is a tender picture, and Jesus clearly cares for the children. However, He is not saying that the kingdom of heaven belongs to actual little children. Instead, He is reminding the disciples of their need for childlike faith.

Indeed, there is not a more important gift we can give the next generation than to continue to bring them to Jesus. Whether they are infants, teens, or adults themselves…every child at every stage needs to be brought to Jesus.

Often, however, we are too busy “adulting” and forget to embrace the wonder, the joy, and the “aha” moment. Today, let the words of Jesus remind us that there is no other important way to come to Him than to approach Him with childlike faith, wonder, and joy!

Dear God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for teaching me what childlike faith is, and please forgive me when I make the gospel less simple, less believable, and less beautiful. Please restore me to the childlikeness of my early days of knowing You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.