Embracing Both in the Kingdom
By: Pastor Bailey Miller
“...Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 18:3
A Faith that Starts Small—but is Never Shallow
In considering the gravity of the necessary clause to “become like children” or “never enter the kingdom of Heaven,” we must see that Jesus did not call us to become childish, but to become child-like. This distinction is essential in avoiding an unbiblical expectation of immaturity that lays an obedient framework for maturing in the faith. When Jesus accentuates this call for child-like faith, He was pointing to the heart– to have humble dependence, sincere trust, and open-eyed wonder, not immaturity or naivety.
At the same time, the New Testament is filled with exhortations to grow up into maturity in Christ– to leave behind spiritual infancy and walk in wisdom of the faith that grows in discernment, endurance, and wisdom. These two calls for a heart like a child and a maturing faith are not contradictory or even held in friction, they are divinely harmonious and invite believers of God to appropriately and faithfully enjoy Him forever.
The Child-like Heart: A Kingdom Necessity
“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 18:4
Amidst many faithful examples of Christian living, why would Jesus point to the humility of a child as a heavenly litmus? Christ’s expectation here can reveal a few things to us about the necessary heart stance one must have in genuine faith to inherit the kingdom.
Children trust easily. They depend on others to provide, protect, and lead the way in which they should go.
Children do not pretend to be self-sufficient. They cry out, look up, and reach up to help outside themselves.
Children are clay. They are not filled with pride or pretense and instead are molded by instruction and example.
Children delight in the presence of their Father. They find joy in nearness to their Father far more than gifts or earthly treasure.
This is the posture of everyone who enters the kingdom of God: coming with nothing but a deep need, and deep satisfaction in being found by our Heavenly Father. To be a child of God is our most intimate identity that spans from this moment to eternity. Being a child of the King comes a new way of following:
We follow without fear. Our Father goes before us.
We trust without needing control. He holds our future, and all things in His hands.
We obey from love, as those who are loved. Our place is already secured in His heart by His work.
We hope even in uncertainty. Our Shepherd never sleeps, forgets, or forsakes.
Being a child of God does not bring about ease in the form of a painless life, but in the simplicity of trust: we are not the author of our faith, He is. We are not sustaining our own growth, He is. We are not earning His affection, He has already given it fully.
The Call to Maturity: A Discipled Mind and Heart
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
— Hebrews 5:14
While the entrance into the kingdom of Heaven requires child-like faith, our journey unto it demands that we grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:13–15). Child-like faith is not synonymous with spiritual infancy. In order to enjoy our Heavenly Father appropriately as His children, spiritual maturity is of the utmost importance. Such maturity includes:
Doctrinal depth: knowing what we believe and why (Colossians 2:6–7)
Discernment: being able to recognize truth from error (Hebrews 5:14)
Endurance: growing in perseverance through, and in trials (James 1:2–4)
Christlikeness: being conformed to the image of Jesus who saves us (Romans 8:29)
In proper order, we must not confuse simplicity of faith with simple mindedness– leading to stagnation of growth. Child-like faith and spiritual maturity, much like the fullness of the law and the gospel, are not opposites—they are harmonious companions that see members of the body of Christ grow up by digging deep into childlike humility. The mature believer still trusts like a child but walks with tested wisdom and blisters from faithful work.
Where the Two Meet: Mature Trust and a Teachable Heart
A mature Christian is not one who grows out of child-like faith as if they learn themselves out of Fatherly need, but one who grows deeper into it. The longer we are blessed to walk with God, the more we realize how much we still depend on Him and how much there is left to learn. Our knowledge may expand, but this only takes us deeper in the soil of our salvation.
Consider Paul’s paradox:
“When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Or Jesus Himself who in praise to the Father said:
“At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25)
The truly wise are those who still kneel in wonder. This posture is not just symbolic, but shows the cosmic necessity of mature faith in a childlike position. Our Savior is higher than us. Our God is supreme over all. Our Messiah is a risen King. All of these eternal realities do not leave us subject under tyranny, but free us to be children in His eternal court, growing in understanding and enjoyment of His decrees. If we miss out on this vital perspective:
We may become proud, cold, or intellectual by lacking intimacy of faith.
We risk leaning more on our understanding than trusting in the Lord.
Our walk of faith can become performance-driven rather than grace-filled sanctification.
On the other hand, if we embrace being a child and abandon the call for spiritual maturity:
We may fall into shallow beliefs or be swayed by the doctrine of the day.
We may remain easily discouraged in the midst of circumstance.
Our witness to God’s glory may lack depth or resilience.
A Prayerful Balance
The Christian life is not a race to outgrow our need for God or to move beyond our blessed position we get to have at His feet. It is a walk of ever-deepening trust, ever-growing obedience, and ever-richer knowledge of the One who calls us His children and disciples. Let us walk faithfully and hold both truths with reverence and awe as we are called:
To trust like a child—because we are always His now and forever.
To grow like a disciple—because we are being made like Christ and will be perfected in Him.