Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 NASB
Read Matthew 18.
In a culture that seems to be “All about ME” and “What’s in it for me?” Jesus turned the system up-side-down!
We see it all around us – that “Me first” attitude. We rush to beat others to the prime parking place, or we start walking faster in order to get into the restaurant first before the people who are getting out of their car over there. I have even seen it at the water fountain. You see someone walking in that direction, so you hurry up and get there first so you don’t have to wait. This is simply an attitude of our flesh nature that needs to be reprogrammed.
It’s not all about the small, daily selfish acts either. We have learned that our culture is quite competitive in every area. To succeed in business, or to get an excellent job, we have to be better than everyone else. Often, that can translate into stabbing someone in the back or throwing them under the bus so we can rise up with favor. We have learned that to be great, we have to stand out. We feel pressure to be the thinnest, prettiest, smartest, richest, most ruthless, and most ambitious if we are going to get anywhere. We constantly feel the stress of trying to prove ourselves as valuable or worthy.
Jesus came and turned it all around. The disciples had been trying to figure out who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Were they ever shocked at Jesus’ answer! This isn’t what they were accustomed to!
Jesus called up a child to stand next to him. He said, “Unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (verse 3). As a matter of fact, Jesus declared that in order to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, we must be humble just like the little child standing next to Him. Humble = Greatness?
Jesus declared that in order to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, we must be humble just like the little child standing next to Him.
I can imagine how quiet it must have gotten in the room. This culture viewed children as insignificant, and as in the way. And now, Jesus declares how valuable children are to Him. He goes further to explain that when we welcome a child, we are welcoming Jesus. Let’s get that! Our attitude toward children is reflected by our attitude toward Jesus. It goes hand in hand!
On the other hand, Jesus declares that if someone were to cause a child to stumble, or to fall into sin, it would be better for that person to have a giant millstone attached to him and be thrown into the sea to drown. That is how Christ sees those who harm or abuse children. That actually gives me some comfort to know how God feels about child abuse because it just rips my heart out to think of someone mistreating a child. I wouldn’t want to face the judgment that is in store for those who have caused harm to a child. God is going to vindicate every single child who has been mistreated and abused! When my heart is distraught over the stories of yet another child being rescued, or worse, did not survive, an abusive situation, I am comforted in the knowledge of how God feels about it. I know that He will repay and make it right someday.
I wouldn’t want to face the judgment that is in store for those who have caused harm to a child. God is going to vindicate every single child who has been mistreated and abused!
Curiously, Jesus also warns them about taking sin too lightly. It can be tempting to blame our fleshly desires and say that we just couldn’t help it. However, Jesus said it would be better to chop off our hand, or pluck out our eye, if we cannot refrain from sin. Sin matters! It would be much better to enter heaven with one hand or one eye than to be thrown into hell with all our members in tack!
And, whoa to those who tempt others to sin! We need to be building each other up and helping each other in our walk with Christ rather than making sport of causing someone to fall. We are here for each other. This is not an “all about me” life Jesus was teaching us!
The Lost Sheep
In the culture of Israel of the time, any kind of shepherd analogy was meaningful to them, since they understood the relationship of shepherds and sheep first hand. Jesus gave such a beautiful illustration of how the shepherd will go to any lengths to find the one lost little lamb, even if it means leaving the other 99 behind.
Jesus, of course, is the Great Shepherd, and we are His sheep. He does not neglect the 99. They are at home in their pens, and there are likely farmhands watching over them. However, the shepherd is not averse to searching every nook and cranny of the nearby land, hills, and caves, until he rescues his precious little lost lamb. He then has a celebration when he carries his little lamb back home.
What is interesting is that Jesus says, “And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!” (verse 13).
First, if you are the lost lamb, Jesus does not reject you. He is not mad at you. He loves you so much that He is willing to do whatever it takes to bring you back home. He welcomes you with open arms, and He celebrates your return. You are never too lost or too far gone that the Lord’s hand cannot reach and rescue you.
Jesus does not reject you. He is not mad at you. He loves you so much that He is willing to do whatever it takes to bring you back home.
Second, here is an interesting twist! God is much happier about the one who returns than He is about the 99 who think they don’t have to repent. These are the self-righteous who think they are holier than everyone else. They may have great pretense going on the outside, but they are full of corruption on the inside. The religious “holier-than-thous” don’t get a party!
The boundless love of the Father, however, yearns to welcome everyone home. He doesn’t want to see anyone parish, but for ALL to come to repentance. Don’t fret that you are too much of a mess. He can handle the cleanup project. You just come as you are, and know God will accept you with open arms!
May this encourage you, and may you have a blessed week!
