Sometimes I feel like I have the tendency to look at myself higher than I ought as though I have the right to boast in what I can do or have obtained. I would say that this stems from pride and arrogance rooted in the heart but I am grateful that god is tender and compassionate in working this out of me slow and steady in ways I never thought possible.
Recently I had the opportunity to visit a special needs children home filled with disabled children that could not feed themselves nor leave their beds unless picked up. They could not walk, could not talk, could not see, could not keep themselves clean, could not treat their lice infested heads, could not change their poop and urine filled underwear, they were in utter dependance upon their care takers. Surely if they were left in their original conditions before coming to the home ( left on a floor alone with no one to come to their rescue) they would die.
The thought of these children living like this all the days of their lives yet laugh and smile was hard to bear. Better yet it was humbling! I honestly have never seen such and would not wish their conditions upon anyone but I wish with everything in me I would find more joy and delight in simple things as they did.
Looking at these children and pondering on their physical condition caused me to examine myself and reflect on what Christ told his disciples in Matthew 18 and also reflect on the reality that outside of christ we are spiritually dead, disabled, blind, lame, deaf, and hopeless and in need of a care taker named Christ (Ephesians 2, Romans 3, Colossians 2).
Matthew 18: 3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Why is it that children are referred to as humble? Children are dependent!
How can the man whom apart from his caretaker/creator can do absolutely nothing boast?
I believe with all of my heart Christ is saying that He must be the very care taker of our lives or we will never enter the kingdom. We must be dependent upon him and him alone or we will not enter the kingdom. He must be the one that provides all sustenance or we will not enter the kingdom. We must see our weakness, feebleness, and frailness, or we will not enter the kingdom.
In the end I see clearly my spiritual state in these children and my need for child like faith as well. The reality is whether you are a normal healthy child and your body functions properly you are still dependent on the one who cares for you. Whether you are a disabled child and your body cannot function properly you are still dependent upon the one who cares for you.
Let us be like little children and let us walk in the humility of Christ daily. This lesson I learn often
