As Children, Enter the Kingdom of God

""Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
Mark 10:14-15

Here in this passage we get a marvelous glimpse into the very heart of Jesus, not just for those who are children, but for all who will receive Him! John 1:12 says, “But to all who received Him, to those who believe in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Imagine that. We get the right to become children of God through faith in Him

In fact, one thing I hope you notice here, is that Jesus does not say, “The kingdom belongs to those who are children.” As if the thing that matters for eternal life is that you be a child. He says “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (v 14). Meaning there is something about the status of a child – his helplessness and dependancy, his willingness to receive that which is given – that is necessary for us to have if we hope to enter the Kingdom of God.

So here’s the question we must all face. Do I see myself as weak and helpless before God? Or do I imagine that I am strong enough to stand on my own two feet? Do I understand that there is nothing I can bring to the table to commend myself to Him? Or do I still maintain that there is something in me that merits salvation? Have I understood that, if I am to enter the Kingdom of God at all, it can be only by a willingness to receive freely and joyfully what He has given by grace alone? I tell you, heaven and hell hangs in the balance for you, based on which of these attitudes characterize your life.

I hope you will join us at Rockport Baptist Church this Sunday morning as we look first, at the love Jesus has for children, and then second, at what this tells us about how we must receive the Kingdom of God.

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be the Glory),
Pastor Scott Lee