“And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 NIV

What Happens to Us?

Recently I read a little story about a child who had compassion for a classmate and that compassion led to the entire group of children asking for and receiving prayer. Aren’t children marvelous? From an infant in a hospital nursery crying the sympathy cry for another crying baby, to the child in the following picture, young children are generally compassionate for their peers and others.

What happens to us? Why is it so difficult to remain like little children? Might I make a few suggestions?

At some point in our life someone told us something was wrong with us and we believed him or her.

Someone shamed us.

Someone bullied us.

Someone abused us.

Our responses to the above types of situations lead us to:

*Anger

*Hatred

*Prejudice

*Jealousy

*Envy

*Bitterness

*Revenge

So how do we get it that child-likeness back? How do we get to the point of trusting and loving as a child? Galatians 5:16-22 gives us our answer. We walk in the Spirit.

We respond with:

*Forgiveness

*Love

*Joy

*Peace

*Longsuffering

*Kindness

*Goodness

*Gentleness

*Self-Control

*Compassion

I want that child-likeness back, don’t you? 

“Father, thank You for Your Spirit that leads us back to that childlike faith and being. Help us to let go of the hurt and abuse of the past and forgive—not that forgiveness lets anyone off the hook for their actions, (that is between You and them), but the forgiveness frees us to live in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control and ultimately compassion for others. You are a mighty God and mighty to save. We bless Your name today. Amen.”