A quiet morning to begin the day – may my heart be quiet as I sit in Your presence this morning, Father. May I hear Your voice clearly. Touch and direct my life in the direction You would have it go. Amen.

Matthew 18:1-6 (<<click the green)

My study Bible* makes a great point in regards to this passage – are we striving to be childish or childlike? This particular incident was not just one from Matthew’s perspective; three of the four Gospel writers include it in their writings. It is something with which they all struggled – looking out for number one. Are we not guilty as well?

The disciples saw and heard much of what Jesus was doing but their concept of His coming kingdom was clouded by the common misconceptions of the day. They were looking for an earthly kingdom, not a spiritual one that would encompass all of eternity. So with that mindset in place they – like we – were jockeying for the best spot possible. “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” they asked.

Childish, right? Me first! Oo, oo, oo, pick me! Here they are arguing over a petty non-issue – who is greatest? Who amongst us is going to get those high ranking positions with all of their power, prestige, and perks?

And what is Jesus’ response? He doesn’t crack any heads together. He’s doesn’t lash out at their foolishness in anger. Nope. He puts a child among them and says, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Childlike…not childish.

Lord, it is so easy to spend the time I have looking out for myself. The world literally shoves this down our throats every day. But everything I strive for is temporal – here today and gone tomorrow – power, wealth, security…love even – at least the world’s idea of love. I would ask that You help me to not focus on greatness but to focus on humility. May I seek to follow Your admonition from Matthew 6:33 AMP,

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

Amen.

*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation

July 17th,2018, Tues, 6:20 am