Like A Child [Matthew 18]

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"2And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,3and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

When I was a child, I couldn't wait until I was old enough to be on my own. I was dependent upon my parents to take care of me, to provide everything that I needed. They got to decide when I got up and went to bed, what I ate and where I got to go. It was a relief when I finally was old enough to get that parental yoke off my shoulders. However, by the time I was 23 years old and a young married wife, I was ready to end my life because of my eating disorder. Life felt like a living hell and I was tired of fighting. That is when I gave my life to Jesus. I remember telling Him, "I don't know if you are real, but if you can fix this mess I am in, I want you in my life." From that day, my life began to change for the better. It was quite a few years before I realized the truth of Matthew 18:1-4 and began in earnest to let Jesus run my life and learn to be His obedient child. Over 20 years later, I still struggle against His parental yoke, but each year, by His grace, I am a little more like a child and so blessed as a result.

May you become like a child and be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Beth Warlick, 1/21/2009