Can We Trust the Gospels?

Recent Posts


Past Posts Archived by Date


Search this site


Topics


Search this site


Syndication

« National Worship Leader Conference | Home | Why, If We Share the Same Bible, Do Presbyterians Differ So Widely on the Issue of Gay Ordination? Section 1 »

Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling

By Mark D. Roberts | Sunday, July 27, 2008

Childlike Discipleship

READ Matthew 18:1-4

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Matthew 18:3

When the disciples came to Jesus to ask who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, they were expressing the values of their culture. Being honored by others was more important even than life itself. Perhaps the disciples were hoping that Jesus might identify them as the greatest in the kingdom, given how much they had sacrificed to follow him.

How surprising Jesus’ answer must have been to the disciples. He didn’t identify the most exalted person in the kingdom. Instead, he called them to childlikeness and humility. We enter the kingdom through childlike dependence upon God’s grace. We live fruitfully in the kingdom by daily offering ourselves to God in humble submission.

Disciples of Jesus today are not unlike the first who followed him. We also are impressed by greatness, both in the world and in the church. Which of us wouldn’t like to meet a famous Christian leader or author or pastor? And, if we’re honest, which of us wouldn’t like to be thought of as great? So the call of Jesus to childlikeness continues to challenge his disciples to a new way of thinking and living.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you ever get caught up in the race for greatness? When? Why? How do you feel about being like a child in God’s kingdom? What helps you to depend upon God fully? What helps you to be truly humble before God and people?

PRAYER: O Lord, in this story I can so easily see myself. Like the disciples, I can get caught up in worldly values. I too can seek my own greatness, either in my accomplishments or in being with people whom others consider great.

So, I must confess that I hear the call to childlikeness at first as a word of rebuke. And I receive this as a word of grace. I need the freedom that comes with a kingdom-based values readjustment.

As I come before you, Lord, may I come as a child: unpretentious, simple, dependent. And as I live my life in the world, may I express genuine humility as I offer myself to you fully, and as I give myself to others in servanthood. Amen.

Daily Reflections from The High Calling.org

This devotional comes from The High Calling of Our Daily Work (www.thehighcalling.org). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace.

high calling daily reflection

Topics: Sunday Inspiration |

One Response to “Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling

  1. Thomas Buck Says:
    July 27th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    Dear Rev. Roberts:

    O.K., this is off topic, but I figured you’d appreciate it.

    In the Marquette Police Log for Sunday, July 27th: Police called to residence in the 300 Block of Hewitt because a woman was reported to have her finger stuck in an ironing board.

    Just when you think you’ve seen ‘em all…

    I must say, Boerne seems to consistently have more interesting entries.

    Tom

Comments

Thanks for your willingness to make a comment. Note: I do not moderate comments before they are posted, though they are automatically screened for profanities, spam, etc., and sometimes the screening program holds comments for moderation even though they're not offensive. I encourage open dialogue and serious disagreement, and am always willing to learn from my mistakes. I will not delete comments unless they are extraordinarily rude or irrelevant to the topic at hand. You do need to login in order to make a comment, because this cuts down on spam. You are free to use a nickname if you wish. Finally, I will eventually read all comments, but I don't have the time to respond to them on a consistent basis because I've got a few other demands on my time, like my "day job," my family, sleep, etc.

You must be logged in to post a comment.