Jesus said, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:3-4).” Then when looking more closely at what our LORD said elsewhere, He also brings attention to living a humble life in such a way that the effort is placed squarely on the person seeking access to heaven and a lowly status, among others (Matt 23:12).
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
– Matt 18:3-4
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
– Matt 23:12
So by listening and reason, we can conclude that the LORD wants his followers to not only humble themselves but do so by becoming childlike. It would appear that these two principles are not mutually exclusive either, but instead, they really overlap each other. To answer the question, what it looks like to humble yourself and what the expected outcomes are. Specifically, to humble yourself as a child to get access to heaven and become exalted there.
This is another very clear demand from the LORD. A demand we end our preferences and pursuits of status, popularity, wealth, power, self-reliance, personal rights, and control.[1] So that those who would follow Him ask even a new question, “How can I do the greatest good for people who need my help, no matter what it costs me?
[1] John Piper, “What Jesus Demands of the World” (Crossway, Wheaton Illinois), 134
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