The apostle Paul wrote, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). The phrase “children of God” is often used to describe believers but the words may be used too flippantly, with little understanding of the power and depth of their true meaning.
To be a child of God means simply to be God’s dependent; that is, “one who is unable to exist or function without help.” The child of God knows he cannot control his own life without the Lord’s daily help.
Many sinners are self-sufficient people who see themselves as high achievers — can-do people. They preach that whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve — that with the right mental attitude, a person can do anything.
The church has been flooded with self-help books of all kinds, many about winning your own victory over self, doubt, fear and loneliness. Many in the church believe if you have the right formula, you can figure out everything for yourself and solve your own problems. This attitude says, “God, you gave me a good mind so I’ll just think this through and work it out.”
Jesus once found his disciples arguing among themselves about which one was going to be the greatest in God’s kingdom and he gave them a lesson. “Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 18:2-3).
Jesus was saying, “Forget about who will be greatest. You must rethink your relationship to me and learn how to walk in this life.” This child represented a life of total dependency, because children cannot adequately take care of themselves.
Have you learned to be wholly dependent on the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Come to him as a little child and he will revolutionize your thinking!