October 05, 2005
The Greatest Of All Time
Muhammad Ali was a great fighter. It was so fun to watch him fight and entertaining to watch him play around with the media and his opponent.
The disciples of Christ came to Him 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.
"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My Name welcomes Me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire."
What is it about children that Jesus is saying is so essential to life? Is it their innocence? Is it their playfulness? Is it the fact that they are only occupied with what's going on around them -- not stressing about bills or external politics far, far away...? It's probably bits and pieces of each one of these things that make up the child-like-ness that Jesus is telling us to have. These attitudes are certainly possible for us, but as adults it takes an effort to think like a child or act like a child. It's probably not childish things that God is refering to here (as He brings up "putting away childish things" in another scripture passage), but the humility that children exhibit.
"Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
While it may sound lofty, I think that there are an awful lot of precious people who cling to the Words of Christ and walk in such a humility that it effects the people around him/her in a very positive and life-changing way. I think there will be large groups of "great" people in the kingdom. While sin is in the world and there's much to be done, there are some beautiful people of love out there making a difference, and doing it like a humble little child.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at October 5, 2005 09:48 AM