Living in Childlike Dependence

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

In the gospel of Matthew, scripture reveals a fascinating truth about the way of the Kingdom. Let's take a closer look at what Jesus teaches about childlikeness, starting with Matthew chapter 18, verse one...

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."

I love how Jesus steps into the room and flips the status quo on its head. In the early 1st century, children were viewed as having the lowest status in society. Jesus calling the children to Himself shows how He brings value to the lowest, most forgotten places. Jesus Christ Himself took the lowly place, as we read in Philippians 2, and beckons His beloved disciples to follow His way.

"Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!" Phil 2:6-8

Throughout various teachings, Jesus tells the disciples that to be the greatest of all, you must be the servant of all. To emphasize His teaching, Jesus takes action, stooping low to wash His disciples' feet at the Last Supper during Passover. He took the lowest place of all, descending from Golgatha to the depths of the earth (Eph. 4:10), to defeat death once and for all. Time after time, Jesus shows His humility, crying, "I am meek and lowly in heart."

When a believer follows and surrenders to the Lordship of Jesus, the Holy Spirit transforms and regenerates the born-again life. He is redeeming Christ-likeness in His followers, as the individuals in the body of Christ constantly saturate themselves in the Word, prayer, communion, fellowship with believers, worship, etc. On a personal note, the more I follow Yeshua, the more He molds me in meekness and lowliness. The more I follow His path, the more I realize that lowliness unlocks intimacy and is where life is birthed.

Jesus came into this world as an infant, born in a manger (probably surrounded by animal dung and other unmentionables), and from the first moment He took a breath as a baby, He walked in lowliness and complete dependence on the Father. Even though Jesus matured, He never outgrew dependency. Just as we mature physically and spiritually, we never, ever outgrow dependency.

Let's return to Matthew 18. Jesus tells His followers to take the place of a child, yes, to showcase servanthood and humility as two pillars of the Christian walk. But, there's more to it. Picture a child you've seen recently. They're pretty needy, right? Constantly relying on Mom or Dad for food, water, clothing, toys...for everything! Hopefully, that child was unafraid to approach the parent for its needs because a secure environment had been established. (I'm aware this is not always the case in families, and for that, I'm extremely sorrowful. However, our Heavenly Father is perfect, and His Fathering is always perfect. Please look to Him for the most Holy and loving example of parenting.) To walk, to run, to speak, to climb...A child is completely at the mercy of their parents' care and the lessons they learn from them. Jesus says in John 5:19-20...

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

Sounds a lot like childlikeness, yeah? Jesus, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, was constantly in Oneness with Father. Supernaturally, He was connected even while He walked as a man on earth. If Jesus stayed this close to the Father, how much more do we need dependency on the Father?

Let's take a moment to reflect on scriptures that point us to childlike dependency:

“He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.” Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God." Psalm 22:9

"As a mother comforts her child,

so will I comfort you;" Isaiah 66:13

"For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

Everything we have, we have first received from Him. So this means that if you're a seminary professor or a sideline reporter, you need Jesus. If you're a Pastor or professional athlete, you need Jesus. If you're a worship leader or athletic administrator, you need Jesus. We don't outgrow our dependence, or look only to Him for help when we're doing "sacred" things. We are constantly, forever, and always learning to walk in daily dependency in His presence and His life alive in us.

So, right now, let's turn to God and repent for self-reliance (myself included). Holy Father, I'm so sorry for trying to do this walk without you. I'm sorry for trying to perform my way into right relationship with you. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for bringing me into your family. I am your child. I need you, God. Please reveal your Help to me. Amen.

It's amazing and true that God really does know what we have need of, and He knows what we need before we ask. John 14:26 says, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." When the scriptures testify that God will never leave you nor forsake you, we need to believe that. The Father sent the Holy Spirit (Helper) to now dwell in the lives of believers and to fill/empower the church to walk in the power of God, with an awareness of the presence of God. This radically changes everything!

Imagine a child coming to Jesus. They're not trying to win His approval or puff themselves up to enter His presence. They simply come, as they're told. And so now, the Lord is telling you, asking you to come to Him, like a child. Can you do this? Can you trust in the Father's goodness as you come humbly and dependent on Him, believing that He is pouring out His love on you?

So, to close, we should not view dependency as a limitation. When Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden, prior to the fall of humanity, they were in perfect communion with God. The creation in union with the Creator. When sin entered, the couple hid from God. Church, it's time to stop hiding and run back to the Father. This is what Jesus bled, died, rose, and paid for. In Christ, you are now tethered together, fully restored to right relationship with the Father. This is freedom; knowing that you can come under the shelter of His wings and entrust yourself to the Father's care. There's nothing too hard for Him. He is totally and completely in control. He is Good and Just and Wonderful. He never makes mistakes, and He knows exactly what to do with you. Your Father loves you. He desires for you to know Him and love Him. He's made a way for you to do that boldly and freely. He's created you to depend and lean upon your Beloved. Cease striving, and come to Him like a child.

Surrender means total dependency, over and over again. As I'm writing this, I pray for a fresh wind of grace to fill you. May you see and know truly how much better life is when you release control and depend on Him. I bless you to ask the Holy Spirit to take you by the hand and lead you into life everlasting in His presence.

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