Suffer little children

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 19:4)

Unless we change and become like little children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:3).  John Madsen [1] renders the appropriate verses beautifully in the following way:

"Yes,  I say to you, if you do not turn inwardly and reawaken the pure forces of childhood within yourselves, you will not find access to the kingdom of the heavens.  The more a person can humbly enliven his Being of the child within himself, the greater he is in the kingdom of the heavens.  Whoever immerses himself in the being of such a child, trusting in me, will find me through the child" (Matt 18:3-5) [2].

This point is reiterated by the Lord in the following passage: "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10: 15. See also Luke 18:17) (NIV) [3].

The importance and reasons for this required transformation is stated as follows: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:17)(NIV) [4].

In order to gain our inheritance then, we must become like little children and turn inwardly, in order to 'receive the kingdom of God', as the Kingdom of Heaven is only found by turning inwardly (Luke 17:21).

We must also share in the sufferings of Christ. "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (1 Pet 4:13).

I pray that I may come to know the Christ and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Phillippians 3:10).  Amen.

So, how do we become like little children?

OM

Notes:
[1] The New Testament, A Rendering by John Madsen, Floris Books, 1994.

[2]  The King James Version, in its archaic English, renders this as follows: "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.   Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child,  the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."

[3] NIV = New International Version.

[4] John Madsen renders this last sentence as "If we share in his suffering, we will also share in his transfiguration."