And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
-Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
Two of the major barriers that are blocking the body of Christ from experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven is not understanding what it looks like to spend time with Jesus, sitting in His presence, learning His heart straight from Him, and not being teachable like a child. These barriers will prevent us from experiencing the fullness of life that Jesus paid for, unlocking the Kingdom of Heaven in our every day lives.
Much of our Christian culture is under the impression that we need to be taught in full accuracy about the Bible and encourages us to spend more time learning under people or reading books and devotionals instead of sitting at the feet of Jesus, opening our own Bible.
There’s a belief that reading others’ work and written books is “devotional” time with Him, but if we are truly honest with ourselves, inside, we are still hungry.
Don’t get me wrong.
Books and devotionals are great!
I’m an avid reader and clearly I write books, too . . . But as you read testimonies, books, and devotionals because of someone else’s time with Jesus, it should stir a hunger in you to experience God in your own personal way by going directly to Him.
Don’t settle for the crumbs of my time or anyone else’s time with Jesus. You will starve and never be fully satisfied. You will never experience what it means to have your cup running over from the Living Water Himself who satisfies and quenches the thirst of our souls. We have access to a well of life-giving water without end when we run unabandoned into the arms of our Heavenly Father.
Books and devotionals should never be a replacement for diving into the Word of God for ourselves, spending time with Jesus, inviting His Spirit to teach us, breaking us free of any strongholds in our minds that are hindering our life with Him. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher. Like a child, we can trust Him to show us Truth.
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and He lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what He teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as He has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. — 1 John 2:27 (NLT)
This is what it looks like to become teachable and childlike in order to receive the Kingdom of Heaven here and now.
There is a cry in all of our hearts that needs to know God in this way.
It’s by design that we have a need for Him as Father.
Jesus was fully aware of what would prevent us from receiving the Kingdom of Heaven . . . He called out the religious, the prideful, unbelief, and those who thought they had it all figured out and told them it would require a childlike heart.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we may find pride and an independent spirit has prevented us from running to Him unabandoned and without restraint.
It’s up to us to ask the Holy Spirit to help us identify what the block is so that we can remove all the barriers in our heart and mind, and learn what it means to humble ourselves and receive like a child.
Run to Him with a childlike wonder and learn the rhythm of His heart.
Pray with me…
Father, I know you from an intellectual standpoint, but I don’t think I know you like a father to his child. I’ve spent much of my Christian walk learning about you rather than sitting with you, allowing Your Holy Spirit to be my Teacher. Today, I’m setting aside my feelings and the many ways I’ve talked myself out of just running to you. Holy Spirit, reveal the barriers in my mind that prevent me from experiencing the fullness of Your Kingdom. I want to know what it looks and feels like to receive from you like a child. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
