And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:3-4
Jesus noticed the disciples bickering and whispering. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
As Jesus and His disciples walked from Caesarea Philippi to Capernaum, the disciples’ conversation became a dispute among them. Later in the day, Jesus knowing their hearts, addressed the question that was on their mind, who would be the greatest in the Kingdom?
The disciples were asking the wrong question.
Before they could be great, they needed to enter the Kingdom and for that they needed to be humble. For the Bible says, the Kingdom of God belongs to the humble and poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).
Jesus, however, did not rebuke the disciples for desiring greatness in God’s sight. Rather, He showed them how God’s idea of greatness was different using the illustration of a child.
In a world where pride and self-promotion are the norm, Jesus calls His disciples to be pure at heart as a child and completely without self-sufficiency. They must trust Him completely in humble dependence.
To follow Christ is to understand that not only greatness but true happiness comes from knowing that, in ourselves, we have and are nothing. Our Father in Heaven possesses everything. He has given us all that we need for life and godliness.
Anyone who wants to be first must be last and a servant of all. The world despises the weak and helpless and calls someone superior to others as great. But God calls the one who serves others as great, like His Son Jesus Christ.
How are you serving the Lord today?
Lord, help me increasingly trust and depend on you, I pray.
Extended Reading – Matthew 18
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