The answer Jesus gave must have surprised them. Jesus didn't give a long list of requirements. He simply called a little child over and placed the youngster in their midst. "I tell you," he said to his disciples, "unless you be converted and become as little children, you shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Mat. 18: 1-3)

If it were true for Christ's disciples in that time, then it is true for those who claim to be his disciples today. Unless we change our ways and become as little children, we won't enter into God's kingdom.

Have you ever watched pre schoolers at play? Put a group of them in the same room and just stand back and observe for a few minutes. What characteristic do these little children exhibit that we, as Christians, can follow? One important trait is that of acceptance. Little children don't judge others by appearance. They don't take note of another child's skin color, physical disability, social status, size or shape. Little children are pure in heart.

Unfortunately, as they grow older youngsters begin picking up on Satan's destructive wave length. Anyone who has, as a child, been heckled by other children knows that there can be nothing more hurtful. Unless parents are on guard Satan starts in early planting his destructive seeds in young minds with the hope of ultimately pushing out the child like attitude of acceptance, and replacing it with his attitude of mistrust and division.

How can we escape Satan's negative mentality and become as little (as yet untainted) children? We must change the way we view others. We must began to see humanity though the eyes of a small child.

Paul instructs us to esteem others as better than ourselves, and tells us to put on the mind of Christ Jesus who took on the form of a servant, humbling Himself. (Phil 2:3, 5, 8)

When the disciples, who apparently hadn't understood Christ's earlier instruction, were once again squabbling about who among them was the greatest Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you: on the contrary, he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he who governs as he who serves." (Luke 22: 25,26) Jesus instructs his disciples everywhere to behave as the humble, pure of heart child. Those who are chief should be those who, like Jesus himself, are willing to serve.

We know that God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) That there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female: for we all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3: 28-29).

God doesn't divide us into groups. That is Satan's way. Satan has managed to set humanity against itself. You have only to look around to see Satan's handiwork. Young against old. Male against female. Race against race. Belief against belief. Nation against nation. The list goes on. God doesn't want us to become caught up in that mentality. He wants us to view others as better than ourselves. He wants us to take on the form of a servant.

Does being a servant mean that one has no control? Jesus came as a servant, yet he claimed that he was the Lord of the Sabbath and he threw the money changers out of his Father's house. Serving doesn't mean advocating ones authority. As parents we serve our children, but we also watch out for their welfare. We set rules for them to follow.

God too is a parent. And He has rules for us to live by. He has appointed shepherds over us and instructed us to 'obey those who rule over you, and be submissive'. Why? Because they watch out for our souls. (Heb. 13:17) Who are these shepherds that have the work of watching out for our soul? Those who preach God's word and conduct themselves in a Christ like manner. (Heb. 13: 7)

Any time we find ourselves thinking along a 'them versus us' mentality we need to step back and take a good look at ourselves. Are we fulfilling Christ's requirement to become as little children? Are we in a humble spirit, viewing ourselves as servants?

Let's stay mindful of Satan's trick of divide and conquer. Instead of giving in to it let's see the world through the undefiled eyes of small children. Eyes untainted by the prejudices of this sin sick world. For, as Jesus said of those who are willing to become humble servants, 'of such is the kingdom of God'.

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