From scripture, children reflect the character of the kingdom of heaven. We often gloss over their unique character which God has through them made available for our redemption and reform. We have prayerfully set out for our study some of the primary characters of children which we require in our spiritual journey towards eternity. We pray that the Lord should open our understanding to his word in Christ Jesus who is our teacher.
Children have pure minds
Children have no intention to commit sin or crime or evil. They are innocent and pure in thoughts. In admiration and in order to preserve their purity, Jesus said in Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:2, woe unto anyone who causes one of the little ones who believe in God to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Jesus knew what scripture had said about our hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 said the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? Jesus was cautioning us against misleading children by deceit, corruption and evil of this world. We need the heart of a child in order to belong to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said in Luke 13: 3, 5 unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
Children show true love
Children do not discriminate in sharing or showing love. They do not care nor are they motivated or influenced by race, colour, creed or culture. They love for who you are, and as themselves. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30 love thy neighbor as thyself. He said in John 13:34, a new commandment I give to you, love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. He said in John 15:17, this I command you, love one another. To love is to obey God’s command and children epitomize it. In Luke 10:27 the greatest of the commandments is love. Children love unconditionally. 1 John 4:20 says if any one says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. Children prove that God’s commandment for unconditional love and non-discriminatory is achievable. Our complaints are thus baseless before God.
Children have forgiving spirit
Children have no enemies; they easily forgive and forget; they love those who offend them; and given the chance, they would die for one another. Jesus said in Luke 6:27 love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Children do not nurse pain, injury or revenge. Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer and said in Luke 11: 4 forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation. We fall into temptation if we do not forgive. Referring to the number of times we must forgive, Jesus said in Matthew 18: 22 seventy times seven. We allege this is not possible but Children do not count the number of times they forgive, hence it is possible to achieve. Matthew 18: 35 says forgiveness must come from the heart for God’s acceptance. We must learn to forgive one another as children do for in doing so, we honour God as his image. Luke 5: 21 says who can forgive sins but God only. Those who forgive have God and truly reflect his image as children do.
Children have obedient spirit
Children are obedient to their parents as the bible demands. Ephesians 6: 1 says children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Colossians 3: 20 says children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Children are pleasing to the Lord by their obedience to their parents. If God is our Father in heaven and above all, and we claim to be God’s children, then we must be obedient like children to Him. John 15:10 says if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. Proverbs 7:2 says keep my commandments and live; keep my teachings as the apple of your eye. God wants us to be obedient like children. If it is not impossible for children to obey, it must be equally not impossible for us to obey Christ Jesus. Isaiah 50: 10 says who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the Lord and relies upon his God?
Children are humble in spirit
Children possess God’s humble spirit which is in Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:6 says though he (Jesus) was in the form of God, did not count equally with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. We must be humble like children just as Jesus was to God. 1 Peter 5:5 says God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humility is one of the virtues in godly relationships. 1 Peter 3: 8 says have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. We cannot maintain a relationship with God without a humble spirit. Are we ready to be humble in heart to God? Matthew 18: 4 says whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Are we humble in spirit? 1 Peter 3: 8 says have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind.
Children consider others more important
Children often consider the interest of others before theirs. Philippians 2:3 says do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourself. Children exemplify this commandment without fail contrary to what we do as adults. We challenge God’s instructions as if God is our child or our co-equal? Unless and until we change our character of pride and disrespect or selfishness we cannot please God as children do to God’s admiration. It is not a sign of weakness but wisdom unto righteousness. 1 Peter 5: 7 says cast all your burdens on him, for he cares about you. Why can we not care about others when Christ has already set the example with his life on the cross?
Children believe in their parents
With a humble heart and pleasant disposition, children believe in what their parents say or tell them as the truth. To them, their parents are the best in everything, including satisfying their needs. John 3: 18 says he who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 7: 38 also says he who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. We must believe in Christ Jesus and his words like children do in their parents. Romans 1: 16 it (the gospel) is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jews first and also to the Greek. it is salvation unto anyone who believes. Romans 10:9 says if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Be saved now with Jesus by confession. With faith, Abraham was counted as righteousness; Moses became God’s friend; and Christ became our savior.
Children are cheerful givers
Children share and give what they have without resentment. They also give or share what they have without discrimination whatsoever. Scarcely will we find a child give out something of value with grudge but gleefully. This character of children puts them in a very unique and favourable relationship with God. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says God loves a cheerful giver, not a heart that gives grudgingly. Matthew 10:8 says, freely ye have received, freely give. Whatever we have is for the benefit of all so God appreciates cheerful givers. Wherever we fall short of these qualities of children, we must pray to God to redeem us through Christ Jesus. We are custodians of God’s wealth so let us give cheerfully to those for whom they have been, the resources have been entrusted unto our care.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, please give us a humble and contrite heart to learn of you. Lead us by your grace that we may in spirit be like children in order to be pleasing to you always. Build our faith that we may be humble in spirit to learn from children. Enable us with your cleansing blood to accept your instructions through repentance and to embrace righteousness. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
