We Must Receive the Kingdom as Little Children
To enter the Kingdom fully and entirely, we must become like little children, approaching it with simplicity, trustfulness, and gladness.
Andrew Murray emphasizes the necessity of receiving the Kingdom of God with the simplicity and trust of a little child. Just as the Prince of Wales inherits his kingdom by birth, we must be spiritually reborn by the Holy Spirit to embrace the Kingdom with a childlike heart. Murray points out the difficulty for adults, burdened by their own wisdom and strength, to adopt such humility and trust, yet he reassures that with God, all things are possible. He calls believers to let go of self-reliance and embrace the Kingdom in faith and gladness, just as a child would.
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How did the Prince of Wales become heir to the throne of England? He received the kingdom by his birth as a little child. He was born to it. In a similar way we must be born by the Holy Spirit into the simplicity of heart which will receive the Kingdom as a little child would. When a child receives a kingdom, it does so as a feeble, helpless little thing. As it grows up and begins to understand what it will inherit, it does so in simple trustfulness and gladness. Jesus calls us to become little children and to receive the kingdom in just such a way.
Oh, how hard it is for men and women, with their wisdom, their strength, their will, with all the power of self, to become like little children! It is impossible. And yet without this we cannot enter the Kingdom and its heavenly life. We can know about the Kingdom, we may taste some of its powers, we may work for it and often rejoice in it, but we cannot enter into it fully and entirely until we become like little children. And with men this is impossible. But with God all things are possible.
(Excerpted from Christ is All, pg. 38)
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Receiving the Kingdom as a Little Child
- The Difficulty of Becoming Like a Little Child
- The Possibility with God
- God's power to make all things possible
- The necessity of surrendering to God's will
Key Quotes
“He was born to it.” — Andrew Murray
“We can know about the Kingdom, we may taste some of its powers, we may work for it and often rejoice in it, but we cannot enter into it fully and entirely until we become like little children.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- We must surrender our wisdom, strength, and self-will to become like little children and enter the Kingdom.
- Becoming like a little child is the key to entering the Kingdom fully and entirely.
- With God's power, all things are possible, including becoming like a little child.