The term "childlike" in a biblical context often refers to qualities such as innocence, humility, trust, and a sense of wonder. These attributes are highly valued in Scripture and are frequently associated with the ideal disposition of a believer in their relationship with God.

Biblical References:

1. Matthew 18:2-4 : "Jesus called a little child to stand among them. 'Truly I tell you,' He said, 'unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" In this passage, Jesus emphasizes the importance of humility and the need to adopt a childlike attitude to enter the kingdom of heaven. The child represents a model of humility and dependence on God, free from pride and self-sufficiency.

2. Mark 10:14-15 : "When Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'" Here, Jesus underscores the necessity of receiving the kingdom of God with the openness and trust characteristic of children. This passage highlights the value of a pure and receptive heart.

3. 1 Peter 2:2 : "Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." This verse encourages believers to maintain a childlike desire for spiritual nourishment, akin to an infant's longing for milk. It suggests a continuous dependence on God’s Word for growth and maturity in faith.

Theological Implications:

The concept of being childlike is not to be confused with being childish, which implies immaturity or irresponsibility. Instead, childlikeness in the Bible is about embodying a sincere and humble faith. It involves a recognition of one's own limitations and a reliance on God's strength and wisdom. This attitude fosters a deeper relationship with God, characterized by trust and obedience.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to cultivate a childlike spirit in their daily walk with God. This includes:

· Trust: Like a child trusts a parent, believers are called to trust in God's promises and His plan for their lives, even when circumstances are uncertain.
· Humility: Recognizing one's own limitations and the need for God's guidance is central to a childlike faith.
· Openness: Maintaining a sense of wonder and openness to learning from God and His Word is crucial for spiritual growth.
· Simplicity: Embracing a simple and sincere approach to faith, free from the complications of pride and self-reliance.

In summary, the biblical concept of being childlike is a call to embody humility, trust, and openness in one's relationship with God, reflecting the qualities that Jesus Himself commended and exemplified.(a.) Resembling a child, or that which belongs to children; becoming a child; meek; submissive; dutiful.3515. nepiazo -- to be an infant
... Verb Transliteration: nepiazo Phonetic Spelling: (nay-pee-ad'-zo) Short Definition:
I am childish, infantile Definition: I am childlike, childish, infantile. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3515.htm - 6k

5043. teknon -- a child (of either sex)
... heavenly Father. 5043 () emphasizes the childlike ( child) that willingly
(gladly) submits to the Father's plan. We profoundly learn ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5043.htm - 7k

Children and Childlike Men
... CHILDREN AND CHILDLIKE MEN. ... We are to learn of them as well as teach them; what they
are naturally, we are to strive to become, not childish but childlike. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/children and childlike men.htm

The Childlike Mind. February 5.
... The Childlike Mind. February 5. There comes a time when we must narrow
our sphere of thought much, that we may truly enlarge it! ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /the childlike mind february 5.htm

Songs of the Cross Childlike Submission.
... Songs of the Cross Childlike Submission. X. Childlike Submission.
8,8,8,8,4. Was Gott gefallt o frommes Kind. [365]Paul Gerhardt.1653. ...
/.../songs of the cross childlike.htm

M. *Newton. For a Childlike Spirit.
... VI. THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. 234. 7s. M. *Newton. For a Childlike Spirit.
1 Quiet, Lord, my froward heart; Make me loving, meek, and ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/234 7s m newton for.htm

Sixth Lesson. How Much More?'
... much greater as God is than sinful man, so much greater our assurance ought to be
that He will more surely than any earthly father grant our childlike petitions ...
/.../murray/with christ in the school of prayer/sixth lesson how much more.htm

Down to the Mothers
... Drop back awhile through the years, to the warm rich youth of the nations, Childlike
in virtue and faith, though childlike in passion and pleasure, Childlike ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/down to the mothers.htm

Praying Saints of the Old Testaments (Continued)
... men and lived in simple times. They were childlike, lived in childlike
times and had childlike faith. In citing the Old Testament ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/ii praying saints of the.htm

The Hymnwriter
... This lovely, childlike hymn, the first to appear from Grundtvig's pen, was written
in the fall of 1810 when its author was still battling with despair and his ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter fourteen the hymnwriter.htm

The Heart-Road to the Head.
... time for reading, not one of us, who may not reach out your hand, the hand of your
heart, the hand of your life, the hand of your simple childlike trust"if ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the heart-road to the head.htm

A vision of the Last Day
... must feel shrinking into infinite nothingness; while the devout soul raises its
thoughts to the Almighty, yielding itself up to Him in childlike trust, and ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/a vision of the last.htm

Childlike (3 Occurrences)
... (a.) Resembling a child, or that which belongs to children; becoming a child; meek;
submissive; dutiful. Multi-Version Concordance Childlike (3 Occurrences). ...
/c/childlike.htm - 7k

Hinder (47 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:14 Jesus however said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the ...
/h/hinder.htm - 21k

However (411 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:14 Jesus however said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the ...
/h/however.htm - 33k

Infants (71 Occurrences)
... "Let the little children come to me," He said; "do not hinder them; for it is to
those who are childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs. (WEY). ...
/i/infants.htm - 28k

Malefactor (2 Occurrences)
... Romans 8:17 1 Peter 1:3-5). Among the evidences of sonship are: being led by the
Spirit (Romans 8:14 Galatians 5:18); having a childlike confidence in God ...
/m/malefactor.htm - 49k

Childlessness (1 Occurrence)

/c/childlessness.htm - 6k

Fall (522 Occurrences)
... 3 is not in the least meant to relate to us how man obtained the idea of his nakedness
and sexual passions, and from a state of childlike innocence changed in ...
/f/fall.htm - 62k

Seeing (442 Occurrences)
... on seeing this, was moved to indignation, and said to them, "Let the little children
come to me: do not hinder them; for to those who are childlike the Kingdom ...
/s/seeing.htm - 34k

History (57 Occurrences)
... The oldest narratives concerning Jacob, Joseph, the Judges, David and others reveal
a naive and childlike naturalness, while in the Books of Chronicles only ...
/h/history.htm - 67k

Children
... that may be compared to a new birth (John 3:3). Man must turn and return from
disobedience and alienation through repentance to childlike submission (Luke 15: ...
/c/children.htm - 62k

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