I am utterly amazed at what I hear today from men who have been saved for
years and who are today teaching from their imagination. This is a common
practice in the world around us and comes from an educational system that
exalts and teaches people to be independent. They have no need of God and
will not bow to the authority of the Word nor become as little children.
Our Lord Jesus said this:

Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for of such
is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive
the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. 
(Luke 18:16-17)

In looking at I Peter 2:1-2, there is a clear picture of a desire that we
must all have and is especially needed to enter the kingdom. We come to
Jesus as a newborn babe, whose only desire is to be fed. When we look at
the status of a newborn in real life, there is a total helplessness that
grips your heart. This thing cannot take care of itself and will die if
not constantly looked after. Its body functions work perfectly well by
the evidence of the dirty diaper, but it has no strength in itself. There
is no strength to do anything but eat, and this it does well. A baby is
totally dependent and it doesn’t know it. That is the difference between
a baby and a child, for a child knows where its life comes from.

A child will acknowledge its father and mother and has the capability to
comprehend its source of love (or emotional security), authority, and
discipline. To the believer the source of these things is God and the
Holy Spirit, to which we are to cling. This is a relationship born out of
love and simple trust which cannot be broken.

I was privileged to have one of my cousin’s little boys come and sit with
me one Sunday morning. He came with complete and total trust and in the
knowledge that I would not cast him aside. I put my arm around him and in
a short time he laid his head upon my chest. This is an act of a child
who has placed his faith and trust in the love of another. The
relationship is assured because of unconditional love. He did nothing to
gain my love, but surrendered himself into my care.
 
God desires a relationship of intimacy, a word that has been lost in most
marriages, for we are too independent. Many are unable to understand what
we mean when we use terms such as gentleness, kindness, and
long-suffering. The example has been lost today because our pride
dictates how we should act and live. The solution to this great problem
can only come in the form of a revolution where we realize our need,
repent, and turn to God. Only God can change us inwardly to where we are
capable of expressing the fruits of His Spirit. The only outward change
can be one of humility and dependency (Please refer to I Peter 5: 5-6).

Do you remember the apostle who leaned upon the Lord’s bosom at supper?
Think of the comfort that it gave to Jesus because it was an act born out
of love, in which self was left behind. Much of our teaching today has
become worldly, for it teaches us to be individualistic and independent,
and leaves us servants to self.  These are not the actions of a child and
we should examine ourselves to see if we are manifesting these ways to
others. They are very damaging and bring shame to the testimony of
Christ.

In closing, let us constantly be reminded of the simplicity that is there
in Jesus Christ, for we can only enter in by becoming as a little child.
May our hearts be touched when we behold the gentleness of God in His
dealings with us, and may we respond by simply placing our lives into His
hand.  May we give ourselves to God in the likeness of a child, whose
innocence shines forth in simple trust, (casting all of our cares upon
Him, for He careth for you 1 Peter 5: 7).   Amen!
                                                                        
                                                      M. H. G