Come As A Child

“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.” Matthew 18:2-3 NIV  Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant by these words?  As I have been contemplating maturity levels taught by Dr. Jim Wilder and that we teach in Transformations Community, could this be referring to one of the first tasks of infant and children to just receive?

I am enjoying my new grandson, Edison.  He is just a little over two months old right now and is starting to smile.  This lights up my world!  But mostly he doesn’t give much.  He just receives care and love from those around him.  He can’t really do much else.  This is God’s design.  We first learn to receive before we can give.  “We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 NKJV

For those of us who have experienced trauma, we often don’t know how to receive.  We typically shut off our needs and wants because they weren’t met and focus on giving to others.  This is often out of survival and has become a way of life.  How do we learn to receive now without guilt or shame? 

The life God intended for us is meant to be one where we know how to receive and give and do so in a balanced way that is life-giving.  The challenge is that many of us have gotten out of balance in our pain, either giving too much or trying to take from others (narcissism).  We need to learn again how to receive well so that we can come into that wholesome, life-giving balance.  And Jesus invites us into this process by pointing out the freedom a child has to just receive. 

How easy is it for you to genuinely receive from others?  I know it is still a struggle for me, but I’m learning.  I’m learning to be a child again.  Unashamed, joyfully receiving without fear of lack or having to make up for something.  Just receive.  Love freely given from True Jesus and from others.  I hope you can experience this joy and freedom today!