Note: Devotion based on last Sunday's sermon on Matthew 18:1-10.
Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and
set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
The original disciples asked the Lord, “Who is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). Most of us were born with a desire
to be noticed, to stand out in the crowd, to be recognized as the best or the
greatest. We soon learn, however, just how ordinary or average, if not below
average (!), we actually are.
How does Christ respond to their
question? He begins not with his words, but with a symbolic or spiritual and
prophetic action.
This is the sort of thing that prophets do. Isaiah walked naked
and barefoot for three years to show how Egypt and Ethiopia would be humbled by
the Assyrians (see Isa 20—just six verses!). Jeremiah wore a filthy girdle
about his waist to show how sinful Israel would cling to a holy God (Jer 13).
Hosea married the harlot Gomer (Hosea 1).
Christ brings forward a “little child” and he sets the child “in
the midst of them” (18:2). The word here rendered as “little child” is paidion,
and it means a very young child, even an infant. The same word is used in
Matthew 2:11 to describe the wise men coming to Bethlehem to see “the young
child with Mary his mother.”
A young child is a perfect symbol of weakness, helplessness,
dependency, and vulnerability. Such a child depends on others to do absolutely
everything for them. They need others to feed them, to give them to drink, to
clothe them, to change them, to carry them.
After providing this striking visual illustration, Christ then
adds his powerful words, beginning, “Verily [Amen] I say unto you, except ye be
converted [strepho, meaning turn or turn around, or change]….” (v. 3).
Most of the disciples, save Judas, were believers, true followers
of Christ, but they were headed in the wrong direction, by trying to vie with
one another to be the greatest in the kingdom as the world defines such things.
Christ says they must do a 180 and instead of seeking greatness
for themselves, they had to become “as little children.” Otherwise, they could
not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Spurgeon observed: “A little child has no ambitious dreams; he is
satisfied with little things; he trusts; he aims not at greatness; he yields to
command” (Matt, 254).
We are reminded here
of what really makes a man’s life great. It is following the Lord Jesus Christ.
How can we be great in the kingdom? We must become like little children. We
must acknowledge our total dependence upon him in all things.
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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