We don’t often think of ourselves as children, but God does. In fact, compared to God, we are toddlers at best! The fact that we view ourselves with the knowledge of all we have been through, learned, or studied doesn’t erase the truth that God wants us to always see ourselves as children. Why is that?

Children trust that their parents will care for them.

Children trust that their parents love them and want the best for them.

Children know where to run when afraid or hurt.

Children understand that doing wrong will likely receive discipline as a result.

Children believe their parents can do anything.

Children want to obey their parents and make them happy.

Paul reminded the Colossians, and us, that we are children called to honor and obey our earthly parents and the Lord, our perfect Father. One of the most important ways we please God is to understand that, compared to him, we are children in great need of our loving Father.

The Bible talks a lot about spiritual growth and maturing in our faith. The mistake we often make is to think that we have grown past our need for God's fatherly direction in our lives. We know more now than we did twenty years ago, but, compared to God, we are still just toddlers, if not infants!

God will always think of us as his children because he wants us to think of ourselves that way. The Lord wants to care for us, guide us, and walk with us through our lifetimes, willing to hold his hand.

Wisdom is pleasing God, our Father. A key step in pleasing the Lord is understanding that we will always be children who need to honor and obey our “parents” and, ultimately, our heavenly Father.