Recently while reading in Luke I encountered a verse that stunned me. It's not the first time I've read the verse, but the first time I've noticed the seriousness of the command.

Luke 18:16-17

16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

If we don't receive the kingdom like a child, we don't get the kingdom! There is a right way to receive the kingdom that gives us access and a wrong way that shuts us out. The consequences are dire, and we must understand what receiving the kingdom like a child means.

The short answer we always here is "childlike faith". But what does than term mean? For a picture of "adult-like faith" or maybe "adult-like lack of faith" look just a few verses later where Jesus is talking to the rich young ruler.

Luke 18:18-24

And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

In verse 18 the rich young ruler asks "What must I do to inherit eternal life" He is asking, "What must I do to receive the kingdom?" Jesus says, you know the what to do, keep the commandments. The ruler then begins to list all the rules he has kept. Then Jesus responds with the horrific words "One thing you still lack". What is the thing that he lacks? The receiving of the kingdom as a child! To receive the kingdom as a child is to "Trust" in the right things. The rich young ruler trusted in his riches to satisfy his needs and he trusted in his deeds as a measurement of his goodness.

If you would receive the kingdom as a child, you dare not trust in anything other than Christ. If we trust in our own righteousness, power or possessions we perish. If we trust in Christ's righteousness to atone for our sins and the power of His beauty to satisfy our hearts we receive the kingdom of God.