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October 22

The bible reading today is in Matthew chapter 18.

“As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17:22-23‬ ‭

After the Mt of Transfiguration experience, Jesus and His disciples came down off the mountain there in Galilee. Jesus told the twelve and all those gathering around them that He was heading toward death at the hands of men. And on the third day, he would be raised from the dead.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:1‬

Friends, it puzzles me that soon after Jesus told his disciples that he was going to die in the very near future, the disciples would ask him about rank in the Kingdom of God? Apparently, some of them felt like they were in the running for “the greatest” position in heaven. Some or one must have thought that his service to Christ had earned him a high ranking in the kingdom of heaven.

“So Lord, Who’s the greatest?...which one of us will be honored at the banquet table of heaven?

“And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them...and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you be converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:2-3‬ ‭

Jesus was pointing out an “I” problem among his disciples. Not the eye that they would see-through, but the straight back letter I. Their focus was upon themselves. Their ambition was focused upon themselves and what they could rise to achieve.

The greatest in the kingdom would be the little ones...little children...totally dependent upon Christ for everything. There is no place in the kingdom for the proud and the haughty and the arrogantly self-promoted individuals. No place in the kingdom of heaven for the boastful braggart who believes that he deserves the position of greatest.

Remember when Samuel was trying to rescue King Saul from the consequences of his personal pride!

“And Samuel said to Saul, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not the head of the tribes of Israel? Did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15:17‬ ‭

Now Saul was losing his kingdom because he became “great in his own eyes”...no longer humble...no longer counting on God...just himself.

God would have us “little in our own eyes” and desperately, humbly, seeking the Lord...depending upon Him for everything. And that’s why Jesus said...

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:4‬

And...“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:5‬ ‭

Wow...not the greatest...but the lowest...like John the Baptist said...”Jesus must increase and I must decrease.”

John got it...Lord help me and my friends in the faith get it too.

Have a great day