When we see babies, what are they usually doing? Yes, sticking things in their mouths, yes sleeping and eating. Sometimes smiling and laughing, but what I'm talking about is as they grow older, what is the thing they do most? They learn. They imitate the people they see around them. After staring at their parent for a long time, they attempt to use a fork. Or, they are constantly making noises and trying to say words like the people around them. Sometimes kids, when they get a little older, they get a little annoying sometimes cause they follow you around and listen to every word you say, and watch everything you do. Why? Because they want to learn to be just like there dad. Or big sister. Or big brother. They want to imitate you because they look up to you! They want to be you.
We are told in this verse to be imitators of our father in heaven just like the children are. We can study and look to the children for how we should act in our life.
Matthew 18:3, And he said, I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Now this doesn't mean that we need to resort to sucking our thumbs and talking like a baby, but we should be studying some of the things that they do and doing them ourselves. What are some traits we should imitate?
Persistence
You see a child fail time and time again. They get up to walk and they fall countless times. But they keep trying. They never give up, and finally they begin to walk.
We sometimes will try to follow the Lord, but then soon give up because it is too hard! Or maybe because you are tired of falling. If you never fall, then you will never learn from your mistakes. We must be like children and continue to try to walk in his ways no matter how many times we fall. Some people will fall less than others. Don't let that get you down! You will learn eventually, keep trying. Push on. Give effort.
Trust.
When I tell a child that I am going to take him out for Ice Cream, do you think that that child will be excited? Yes! Absolutely! Do you think that the child will be thinking, "Well, I doubt that that will happen, so I'm not getting my hopes up." NO! A child has full trust that I will come through and buy them ice cream. That I will keep my word to them.
How many times do we lose hope in God? If your anything like me, it's been many times in the past. Sometimes I would lose hope that he would give me the things I need. But in his word, he promises us that he will come through for us with what we need if we seek him. Nevertheless, I have doubted and lost trust in him. Look to the child, and wait for him to come through for us.
This is only a couple of things that you could be likening yourself to. Make a study of children. Write down their traits, and apply them to your life. But always remember to look to your father, and be imitators of him.
~Whatsoever things are true
Philippians 4:8
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