Hope as a Child

In God’s word when the disciples asked Jesus who would be the greatest in Heaven, Jesus replied; “unless you humble yourself like unto a child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven and whomever humbles himself as such will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. I believe this is a powerful saying that we sometimes over look in His word. There is much to be said about the life of a child that is raised in a healthy and loving environment. They are fearless because they know not the danger that lays ahead, nor is it of great concern. Children are hopeful because they have not yet run into a cold world of critics who’s only wish is to crush their dreams because they were too afraid to follow their own. Children’s love is free from alternative motives and they are able to forgive with a simple apology. Their bruises heal easily and they like to look on the bright side. They are able to play well with any gender, race, creed, or color. Children can rest easy at night and have dreams filled with happy thoughts. There has not been many people in the child’s life to disappoint them, so it is easy for them to trust their mother and father without having baggage. If we could just take a couple of these simple lessons from a child’s life how much greater would our lives be?? Imagine your life with hope not only in dreams but in a God that is never changing, that has Kept His promises since the beginning of time, and that says you are to call Him Abba, Father!!!. We know we cannot revert back to a state of innocence such as this without the help of the Holy Spirit because of all the life lessons we have received and because of our sin nature, but there is always hope!!! Have a wonderful life of hope on purpose!!!!!

Matthew 18

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.[a]
12"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.