Monday, June 29, 2009
Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
HUMBLY RECEIVE HIS WORD
Not too long ago during a Sunday sermon I asked my congregation, "Whom do you think is the greatest believer in this room?" Is it the pastor? Is it the member who has been with the church the longest? Is it the new convert who is full of zeal and enthusiasm for the Lord? The people in church that Sunday realized that there was something wrong with the question, but it is the same question the disciples asked of Jesus when they said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" When the disciples asked, it was because they were filled with pride. Each one felt that *he* was the greatest believer and wanted to hear that from the Lord's own lips.
As we grow in Christian maturity, we also need to be careful that pride in that growth does not creep into our minds. The devil will try to get us to think prideful things like, "I don't need to grow any further spiritually. I've learned what I've needed to learn. I've done what I needed to do. I don't need church as much as I used to. I can skip some time with my Bible and I'll still be alright." Satan will attack us and he will try to convince us that we are "great enough" in spiritual matters. We pray that we will resist those temptations to lay aside the word of God, thinking that we are already great believers. A Christian should not be too proud to think that he is done learning from the Lord. All of us must continue to grow in Christ Jesus.
Like little children who humbly recognize that they do not know everything, so we humbly say, "Teach me, O God." And teach us He does! He graciously strengthens and builds us up through the gospel of Christ, making us wise for salvation. He forgives our sin and rather than withdrawing His word He makes it available to us--a feast to be enjoyed at His banquet table so that we can say, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103).
