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For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room,
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and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.
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Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom.
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What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
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"But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.