Too Grown-Up for God's Kingdom (Santosh Poonen)

In order to become like a little child, you must be truly converted from the kingdom of this world. Here are 4 spiritual lessons that the Lord taught me from observing my interaction as a father with my little child: 1. The humility of a little child (Matthew 18:4): Humility is not a pious look, or thinking your good-for-nothing. Humility toward God is always being mindful of God’s mercy to you as a sinner (Luke 18:9-17). Humility toward others is to esteem everyone as better than yourself (Philippians 2:3-5). King David, despite his earthly position of authority, was like a weaned child in his heart (Psalm 131). That’s why he was called a man after God’s own heart. 2. The little child’s hunger for pure milk (I Peter 2:20): When you truly become like a little child, there will never be any substitute for the pure Word of God! 3. The likeness of the Father in the little child: As a child of the Heavenly Father, you should be imitating him in: showing mercy (Luke 6:36); kindness, forgiveness, and love (Ephesians 4:31-5:2); purity (I John 3:1-7); holiness (I Peter 1:14-16); speech (Philippians 2:14-15). 4. The yearning between Father and little child: ave you seen the Father’s heart yearning for you (Jeremiah 31:20), longing to gather you like a hen gathers her chicks (Luke 13:34). Do you yearn for your Father, content that the nearness of God is your good (Psalm 73:28). The only place of quiet rest where sin cannot molest is near to the heart of God. Jesus’ parting desire for us was that we would know that we are loved by the Heavenly Father with the same love with which He loved His Son, Jesus (John 17:23-26).