As a Little Child

Ever since the Fall, mankind has fought for position, honor, power, and wealth—indeed, everything that the human inclinations dwelling in the flesh are drawn to. Even Jesus’ disciples, who had seen Him and heard Him up close, were wondering who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. It must have surprised them when Jesus called a little child to Him and said: “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” .

Jesus longs for me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. . God can change my way of thinking so that I no longer follow the world’s way of thinking. I can receive a completely new mindset—free from seeking honor and power, from the pursuit of money, reputation, and self-righteousness. It is so true as we sing in the song by Elihu Pedersen: “Such can never, such can never to God’s kingdom enter, no, not one. Many try without succeeding ever, till like little children they become.”

A little child does not envy, nor does it have demands, worries, or bitter thoughts. A little child lives in a natural state of dependence on its parents and trusts them completely and unconditionally. A little child has no thoughts about who is the greatest, does not seek its own gain, and has no hidden motives. It is this pure, heavenly spirit that characterizes the child’s entire being. This is something completely different from the mind of the world that most people, little by little, become more and more defiled by.

For this reason, it is so vital to walk on the way of humility and constantly seek to go downwards, so that I am truly preserved in a childlike and simple faithfulness to Christ. In this way my mind is focused in the right way before our Lord and Master and I become a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work! .

Tore Eriksen