Today’s reading is Matthew 18.
The disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. No doubt, they expected Him to choose one of them. After all, He had hand picked them as His special ambassadors. Surely, the greatest in the kingdom of heaven was going to be one of them. However, unexpectedly, He calls a child from somewhere nearby to stand among them. He essentially says, “You see this kid? He’s the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. That is, those who humble themselves like this child are the greatest.” Wow!
Here they were, competing over greatness, and Jesus pulls into their midst someone who wouldn’t, couldn’t, win any competition they might propose. Jesus says people who become like that one are the greatest in the kingdom. In other words, the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those who quit worrying about being the greatest in the kingdom.
However, what is frightening is the first thing Jesus says. Looking at the twelve, the men who had dropped everything and followed Him, who had stayed with Him when others left, who had confessed He was the Christ the Son of the Living God when others thought He was merely a prophet or worse a demon-possessed lunatic, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, “Disciples, you are arguing about which one of you is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I’m telling you if you don’t stop this nonsense not only will none of you be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, none of you will even be in the kingdom of heaven.”
Humility is serious. Today, rather than striving to be the greatest, let’s strive to be humble.
Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 18.
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Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family
- What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
- What does it mean to be humble?
- Why is pride easier than humility?
- What advice would you give to help us turn and become like children in humility?
- What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?
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