“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,…” (Galatians 3:26).
No matter how old you are, if you are in Christ, you are a child of God. This is a simple, yet powerful truth to believe and keep in the forefront of our minds as it is key to experiencing the kingdom of God in our everyday lives.
In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said: “Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus is talking to adults about what it means to enter His kingdom, experience God and to be greatest in that kingdom.
Entering the kingdom of heaven is a decision and a process. It starts with a decision to trust in Jesus as your personal Savior. It continues in the process of submitting to Jesus as your personal Lord. Living according to the truths and principles of the kingdom of God is the way that God created us to live and to experience Him in our everyday lives. It is a way of faith that trumps sight, understanding, feeling, etc.
We are to be child-like, not childish. Childishness is evidence of spiritual immaturity. Child-likeness is an indicator of spiritual maturity. The more mature we become in Christ…the less childish we become and the more childlike we become! Lordship is connected to child-likeness!
One characteristic that is common of all children. Small children adore their parents. Likewise a child of God should ADORE his/her Heavenly Father. Here are five ways to ADORE your Heavenly Father.
Be emotionally Amazed of Him. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Be totally Dependent on Him. “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
Be completely Obedient to Him. “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother” (John 3:10b).
Be genuinely Real with Him. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
Be confidently Expectant from Him. “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)
Your Heavenly Father desires for you to be child-like today!