Child’s Play

Child’s Play
by Rob Eshelman

Scripture Reference: Matthew 18:1-3
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

I certainly love the idea of being a child again. Some people have told me I never grew up. I am not sure if that is good or bad, but I will take it as a compliment. After all, Jesus did say, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” See, I got a foot in the door, so to speak. However, I am thinking he is talking about the innocent and awesome wonder of a child. The stuff we lose as we become older and more cynical as we age. It seems hard to reclaim what we have lost, but according to Jesus, this child still lives within us. We just need to scrape off the layers of gunk we have left life accumulate on us and seek Him with innocence and awe as we did as a child. Maybe singing a rendition of, “Jesus loves me…”, in the shower might rouse that dormant child in you. However, it also might make your family feel like you are losing it. An explanation might be necessary.  Folks, we must let the little kid inside us out once in a while. We need to look at the world with the innocence and awe of a child in Christ Jesus. We need to come running to Jesus as a child and sit at his feet with awe and wonder. You will feel better, and Jesus will probably get a kick out of watching your childlike wonder manifest in the mature person you have become in Him.