He took them in His arms and began blessing them.

Mark 10:13-16  from the daily reading in the One Year Bible (link on links page)

Jesus Blesses Little Children

¹³ And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” ¹⁶ And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

Jesus says that if we are to enter the kingdom of God, we MUST do it as a child. If you are regular reader of "nuggets", you will know that much of my focus and attention is on the things that are ours here in this physical realm  on earth,  because they are accomplished and complete in the heavenly realm, the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God. If we lack some of the promises of the kingdom of heaven here on earth, perhaps it is because we have not come into the kingdom as a child.

Galatians 3:26 says: So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.             Romans 8:14-17 says:  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ...

The Romans verses begin to reveal to us both what we are promised as children of God and possibly the first things we need to understand to obtain those promises. It says that if we are children of God we are also heirs. We need to understand that in the culture of that time an heir, particularly a royal heir, which we are since Christ is king, an heir not only would inherit all the wealth, position and authority of the Father upon His death, but actually possessed the rights, responsibilities and privileges of the inheritance even while they were young, as children of their father. With the position there was also an expectation that they as heirs would conduct themselves in a worthy manner. In the same way we possess all of the promises, privileges, authority of the kingdom now as we live. We also have the responsibility to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of kings kids.

The second thing we see in the Romans text is that even though God is the almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, ruler of all, to us he is Abba, which translates as Daddy. So part of our entering the kingdom of God is knowing and understanding that while God is the almighty ruler of all, to us He is Daddy. He wants us to come to Him, to share our joys and sorrows, our excitement and fears. Abba Father, Daddy is never too busy for His children. He cherishes and delights in us. Psalm 149:4  For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

There still must be more that we need to do to enter the kingdom of God as children. Children have a unique capacity to believe and trust. As we grow older and experience disappointments and hurt and failure, we begin to view the world and the things of the world more cynically, with an expectation of disappointment and failure. We need to guard against our world view and perspective affecting our view of God. He will never fail us, disappoint us or leave us. Within that childlike capacity to believe and trust is a pure and simple faith. Hebrews 11:6 says: without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.     The first part of believing and having childlike faith is simply to believe that He is. Without question or logic, not asking for proof on our own terms, we simply believe that God is God. A child can believe in magic and fairy tales, unseen realms and wonders unimaginable. Can we simply believe that God is God and then that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him?   A child seeks their Daddy and knows that Daddy will reward them. It may be simply with an embrace, a loving word. It may be a small gift, a trinket or a tasty treat. It may be a great treasure, but to be sure the child knows there is a reward to seeking Daddy. The child seeks Daddy, the reward follows. If we will seek God, Abba, as a child, He will reward us. 

Children also possess another attribute that most of us as adults lack. Children have a God like capacity for unconditional love. They don't judge people by the way they look or dress, by the way they talk, the color of their skin or any other characteristic. Judgment is something children learn from adults, it's not part of their nature. If we are to enter the kingdom of God as children we need to find a way to lay aside our attitudes of judgment. We need to love as God and children, unconditionally.

Here's the thing. In order to gain and inherit the kingdom of God we need to first enter in as children, believing and trusting. We are adults. We have experienced the things in life that have caused us to be jaded and cynical.  We have to become like children. That requires that we be willing to give up some control. We need to allow God and the Holy Spirit to take charge of us. We can't be adopted as heirs of the kingdom if we will not ourselves be subject to the king. The kingdom of God is ours to enter and possess. Jesus says if we do not enter as a child we will not enter it at all. As we enter, we will possess it all.  

Heavenly Father, Abba, Lord Jesus Christ, in whom I have become a child of God, Holy Spirit, thank You for Your Word, which is truth. Thank You that You have made me Your child and Your heir. Thank You that I have all the rights, privileges and authority of a kings kid. I choose to submit to You. I choose to lay aside all that has caused me to doubt and question, to be cynical, all that has caused me to believe in disappointment and failure. I believe that You are. I choose to seek You and Your kingdom. I believe that You are a rewarder of those who seek You. Like a child, Daddy, all I really want is You, yet I know You will reward me with all I need and more. Like the children in the text, I come to You unhindered seeking Your touch and Your blessing. Thank You Abba.   Amen