To Be the Greatest
When we grow up, do we want to be like the kid who lives down the street? Are we inquisitive for the answers we can find? Do we live as we are already home?
These questions should prick our hearts, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, for it was Jesus Himself who spoke to us about the ranking found within God’s kingdom.
Spoiler Alert!!!!!!!
The greatest one is not who we might think.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 18: 1-4 NAS)
“Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
and said,
“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever then humbles himself as this child,
[I imagine the child sitting there on the grass near Jesus, there by His knee. &
I imagine Jesus gestured toward the child as He spoke these words to His disciples.]
he is the greatest in the kingdom.”
Don’t you just love how Jesus is a teacher through and through because He does not just speak the words we need to hear, but also physically brings to Himself a child to show us EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW!
Our walk with Christ must not be childish but child-like.
Just as a child—
- We must be inquisitive, searching for hidden treasures.
The treasure we seek are the treasures of heaven.
- We must be unconcerned about our clothing and just live moment-by-moment.
The walk with Jesus is one of FAITH, lived step-by-step with Jesus.
- We must not be in a hurry to sleep but want to stay outside playing as long as possible.
The child of God must not be so agenda-focused but willing to stop, to share Jesus, and to do whatever it takes to help another come to know Jesus as his Savior.
- We must be willing to be smudged, wrinkled, scuffed, and completely childlike.
The disciple of Christ must be unhindered by the appearances we try to keep.
If we are just like a child, then our Redeemer, our Savior, and our Lord says we will be “the greatest in the kingdom [of God].”
In studying this passage, we are reminded of Jude, the one who shared a home with Jesus when they were both boys living with Joseph and Mary.
“But you, beloved,
(The Letter of Jude 20-21 NAS)
building yourselves up on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God,
waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”
- Let us look at ourselves and ask: Am I content with where I am spiritually?
- May we ponder: Have I learned all that I need to know about the character of Jesus?
- Might we (as a child) wish to Grow & Grow & Grow & Grow & Grow & Grow & . . .
SPIRITUALLY!
- Be a prayer warrior, “praying in the Holy Spirit.”
- Seek to “keep yourselves in the love of God.” &
- “waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life” for as long as we have breath in our lungs.
& then,
WE WILL BE THE GREATEST—JUST AS A LITTLE CHILD.
WE KNOW BECAUSE JESUS SAID SO!