1/15/09 Matthew 18
The Greatest People I Know
Today our world idolizes people who are strong and independent. We can look on individuals who possess these characteristics and desire that our children would become like them. Many times these characteristics veil a much deeper problem of pride. Mt 18:3-4 states that the only people in the kingdom are in fact those who “turn and become like children.” When we consider children, they are certainly not the strongest in a world of adults; they consistently need the help of adults to get through a day. Children are not very independent; they are in fact very dependent upon others in many daily tasks.
This puts children in a very humble position on the social pecking order, and these verses call us as adults to humble ourselves like children and then we will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. In order to do this, we must continually relinquish control and our will to our Father. We must submit to His ways and His plans. As adults we battle pride in the depths of our hearts, and many times we are more concerned with what others think of us than with what our Father thinks of us.
So the next time that you are able to look upon children who are weak and dependent, consider them to be the greatest people that you know, because they have just reminded you to have an attitude of humility and dependence upon your Father in Heaven.
Father, thank for the freedom to be weak and needy. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t need your help. Where there are areas in my live of stubbornness, pride, and resistance to your will, please lead me to humble myself and be obedient to Your loving, faithful, strong, and dependable care. Amen