Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Matthew 18 and Psalm 18

³ …‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Jesus made this truth absolutely clear, and yet we still struggle to accept that it is so: True greatness in the Kingdom of God is found in great humility. True Kingdom-greatness is the greatness of humility. True Kingdom-greatness is the humble attitude of heart and mind that causes one to follow the way of Jesus, by considering one’s own desires, needs and honour to be less important, and therefore applying oneself to the pursuit of other peoples’ highest best interests.

The inevitable companion of such humility is childlike trust. The path of humility is usually completely contrary to our fallen human nature. Instinctively, we yearn to protect our own interests and position. Hence, it takes absolute, childlike trust to believe Jesus when He tells us that the path of humility leads to the heavenly Kingdom-Life. It takes childlike, trusting faith to imitate Jesus and follow Him down this self-sacrificial, life-giving, cross-shaped road called humility, which leads to the Kingdom and to true Kingdom greatness.

May the Holy Spirit graciously give us this faith today.

Life application: Look for the opportunity to serve someone else’s best interests today. Surrender the pursuit of your own interests and ‘greatness’ and find a way to make someone else’s life better today.