June 28: Childlike and Heaven Bound

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. Hebrews 5:13

When someone is born again, he is a babe in Christ. This is a joyful time, and the new believer, along with his or her believing friends (regardless of their level of growth), is on the “mountaintop” of new life in Christ! To witness a new birth never ceases to bring joy. In the body of Christ, ideally everyone cares for everyone else in the process of continued growth and learning of the things of God. The Lord has made us to be social creatures. What a blessing it is to spend time with fellow Christians who sincerely desire to be prepared and help others prepare for the soon-coming great day of the Lord (2 Peter 3:10, Philippians 1:10). This aspect of the Christian walk is not only necessary but essential in order to withstand the steadily intensifying sophistries of Satan; his work, the attempted corruption of everything good from the Creator, becomes increasingly evident to the maturing disciple of Christ.

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14

The wise disciple of Christ, as he gains knowledge, comes to understand that the element of teachability is absolutely essential for staying on the heavenward path. It is ironic that so many professed students of the written word become puffed up with knowledge, making them less and less teachable in regard to truth, rendering them vulnerable to error. Then they teach and spread error which grows like a cancer. This is why Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)

The opposite of this is summed up in this short declaration about Jesus by John the Baptist: “He must increase but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Jesus confirmed this by saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:13)

Sometimes we think of little children as the least among us. But their willingness to be taught is the very attribute that makes them such wonderful examples to all of us. John the Baptist had this childlike quality. Consider what Jesus said of him: “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11)

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10