Dear Family and Friends,

If you ever wondered what retired pastors do with all our spare time, the title of today’s message says it all. Yes, I’m still doing the Lord’s work but this is our T&T season of life.

We have been blessed with three wonderful grandchildren. Unfortunately for us, only our youngest grandchild lives here in Hawaii. He is the first that we get to babysit.

We’ve been watching him for almost a year now. I would say his growth has been steady, until this past week when his brain hit a tremendous growth spurt. 

It seems he could say words, associate names to objects and people, and express himself in short phrases overnight. He’s playful, even trying to make us laugh. And he remembers everything.

I’m confident that he, along with his two cousins, will make us proud when they grow up.

What Proverbs 17:6 NIV says about grandchildren is true,  “Children’s children are a crown to the aged.”

Jesus also had a special place in His heart for children.

“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.’” Matthew 18:2-5 NIV

Take note, when Jesus started a sentence with truly – He meant what He said. Unless we change and become like little children, we won’t enter the kingdom of heaven.

Also note that this passage is often misunderstood. 

For example, many say Jesus meant that we have child-like faith; believing in what cannot be seen. 

What is child-like faith? It’s often used with today’s verse but the term is not found in the Bible.

We often play peek-a-boo with our grandchildren. Trust me, when they can’t see us, they’re not sure we exist. 

So what did Jesus mean? What are we changing from? And what must we do to become like little children?

Matthew 18:1 NIV tells us what we are changing from.

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

Jesus is asking us to change from, to reject, the way we (and the world) define greatness. 

So, did He mean we should have a child’s humility? Or a meek, self-effacing humble attitude? Not really.

Jesus is asking that we be humble enough to become like a child. 

Our grandson lets us know when he’s hungry – he says mum-mum-mum while walking to his high chair.

He lets us know when he wants to be carried – he signals touchdown!

He lets us know when he wants to read – he brings book after book to us.

Becoming humble means that we be like little children who know they need help, and who accept their rank in life. 

That we choose to not sit ourselves at the head of the table.

That we instead take the lowly position of a child, and recognize that we too are in need of help. 

We are children – – of God. Let’s accept this truth and behave like the children that we are.

In love always,