Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
The book of Matthew 18:1-4
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 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.
I spent years in a fellowship where pastors and leaders were held in such high esteem for their God given position that the entire fellowship became cultish. Important decisions were made sometimes according to what would bring the leader more credibility rather than what is the will of God or the path to restoration. The pastor’s will gets passed on as God’s will and another genuine move of God’s spirit on Earth will be destroyed by this horrible thing called pride. Spiritual pride destroys not only individual lives but entire fellowships if humility cannot be restored.
The disciples wanted to involve Jesus in a little game of favorites but they soon received an answer that was probably not what they had expected. Do you think that by the 18th chapter of the book of Matthew the disciples would have been converted? Jesus told them they must be converted and restored back to a place of humility or they may not even enter Heaven let alone be the greatest ones there.
Proverbs 16:17-19 reads; 17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. 18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
God wants us to be teachable. He wants us to be humble before Him and our fellow man. Could you imagine how many disputes could be resolved if both sides would desire to humble rather than to be right? How many churches would avoid splits if weren’t for spiritual pride. How different could the entire world be if we each took a personal attitude of humility as Christ did and then paid it forward?
What other childlike qualities do we tend to leave behind as we age and become hardened? Forgiveness? Innocence? Purity? Trust? Acceptance? Does God want us abandon wisdom? I don’t think so, but He does want us to keep our hearts tender and humble before Him and our fellow man.
Hosea 10:12 12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
“God I pray that you help me to keep my heart tender and pure before you. Help me to walk with humility and to have the faith of a child. Help me to forgive, help me to love, to be accepting others, to walk uprightly before you each day! Amen”
The book of Matthew 18:1-4
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 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.
I spent years in a fellowship where pastors and leaders were held in such high esteem for their God given position that the entire fellowship became cultish. Important decisions were made sometimes according to what would bring the leader more credibility rather than what is the will of God or the path to restoration. The pastor’s will gets passed on as God’s will and another genuine move of God’s spirit on Earth will be destroyed by this horrible thing called pride. Spiritual pride destroys not only individual lives but entire fellowships if humility cannot be restored.
The disciples wanted to involve Jesus in a little game of favorites but they soon received an answer that was probably not what they had expected. Do you think that by the 18th chapter of the book of Matthew the disciples would have been converted? Jesus told them they must be converted and restored back to a place of humility or they may not even enter Heaven let alone be the greatest ones there.
Proverbs 16:17-19 reads; 17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. 18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
God wants us to be teachable. He wants us to be humble before Him and our fellow man. Could you imagine how many disputes could be resolved if both sides would desire to humble rather than to be right? How many churches would avoid splits if weren’t for spiritual pride. How different could the entire world be if we each took a personal attitude of humility as Christ did and then paid it forward?
What other childlike qualities do we tend to leave behind as we age and become hardened? Forgiveness? Innocence? Purity? Trust? Acceptance? Does God want us abandon wisdom? I don’t think so, but He does want us to keep our hearts tender and humble before Him and our fellow man.
Hosea 10:12 12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
“God I pray that you help me to keep my heart tender and pure before you. Help me to walk with humility and to have the faith of a child. Help me to forgive, help me to love, to be accepting others, to walk uprightly before you each day! Amen”
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