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Matthew 18:3, 4 - Becoming as A Little Child.Matthew 18:3, 4 (NKJV) And said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 18:3, 4 (AMP) And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. WORD STUDY Become As Little Children. This is how Jesus characterized conversion. Like the Beatitudes, it pictures faith as the simple, helpless, trusting dependence of those who have no resources of their own. Like children, they have no achievements and no accomplishments to offer or commend themselves with. [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003] INTRODUCTION Before Honor Is Humility Very tenderly, yet with solemn emphasis, Jesus tried to correct the evil. He showed what is the principle that bears sway in the kingdom of heaven, and in what true greatness consists, as estimated by the standard of the courts above.... Before honor is humility. To fill a high place before men, Heaven chooses the worker who, like John the Baptist, takes a lowly place before God. The most childlike disciple is the most efficient in labor for God. The heavenly intelligences can co-operate with him who is seeking, not to exalt self, but to save souls.... But when men exalt themselves, feeling that they are a necessity for the success of God's great plan, the Lord causes them to be set aside.... It was not enough for the disciples of Jesus to be instructed as to the nature of His kingdom. What they needed was a change of heart that would bring them into harmony with its principles.... The simplicity, the self-forgetfulness, and the confiding love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values. These are the characteristics of real greatness... The sincere, contrite soul is precious in the sight of God. He places His own signet upon men, not by their rank, not by their wealth, not by their intellectual greatness, but by their oneness with Christ. DA 436, 7 COMMENTARY I've heard many good sermons over many years, and when I take notes, I think I learn more. Lately, the children's sermon has been my greatest blessing. The little ones walk (or are carried) to the front of the church, where Pastor sits on the steps and tells them about Jesus. The children listen all a-wiggle, guessing at and shouting out answers to Pastor's questions. He tells a Bible story, teaches some simple truth, and recites a Bible verse, which the little ones might repeat after him. Jesus is central. The children are assured and reminded of His love. Sometimes there's a song. They finish with prayer, then they head back to their seats. The children of our congregation demonstrate how to accept and receive simply. Where I might overthink and analyze, they look and see. They hear and believe. If some small gift is offered, they reach freely to receive it. Their backs to the congregation and faces lifted to Pastor, the children of our church lack self-consciousness. They aren't taking notes. They enter the story. I want a heart like that. I want to express myself freely and honestly as I seek Him earnestly. Just like a child. - Suzanne Davenport Tietjen Faith Step: If you have a children's Bible or Bible storybook, read it and revel in the simple presentation of the Gospel. Consider volunteering to be a helper in Sunday school or the nursey, and observe both the experienced teachers and the children. Practice applying what you learn to your faith. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] CLOSING PEARL Continuous conversion These words of Our Lord are true of our initial conversion, but we have to be continuously converted all the days of our lives, continually to turn to God as children. If we trust to our wits instead of to God, we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible. Immediately our bodies are brought into new conditions by the providence of God, we have to see our natural life obeys the dictates of the Spirit of God. Because we have done it once is no proof that we shall do it again. The relation of the natural to the spiritual is one of continuous conversion, and it is the one thing we object to. In every setting in which we are put, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered but we have to "put on the new man." God holds us responsible every time we refuse to convert ourselves, our reason for refusing is willful obstinacy. Our natural life must not rule, God must rule in us. The hindrance in our spiritual life is that we will not be continually converted, there are 'wadges' of obstinacy where our pride spits at the throne of God and says - 'I won't.' We deify independence and willfulness and call them by the wrong name. What God looks on as obstinate weakness, we call strength. There are whole tracts of our lives which have not yet been brought into subjection, and it can only be done by this continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God. [My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Matthew 18:3, 4 - Becoming as A Little Child. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230715-0951.html Matthew 18:3, 4 - The Faith of a Child (continued). http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230207-0857.html Matthew 18:3, 4 - The Faith of a Child. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230201-0847.html Luke 18:16, 17 - Enter The Kingdom Of God As A Little Child. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190722-1116.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |