Creator, Father, King #199

Anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

KIDS HAVE IT MADE today!

Think of all the amenities children have specifically geared toward them: video games, sports leagues, museums, playgrounds, trampoline centers, theme parks, toy stores, restaurant menus . . .

That wasn’t the case for boys and girls in ancient times. They were generally afterthoughts until they grew old enough to become “productive members of society.”

With that in mind, what Jesus said in Matthew 18:1-4 must have been shocking to his original audience. Look at the passage:

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 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. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

No one in that society considered childlike humility a prerequisite for greatness in God’s Kingdom. But Jesus did.

What’s It Mean?

Both then and now, the world says greatness is achieved through fame, fortune, pleasure, power, and self-promotion. Make a name for yourself! Look out for number one! Climb the social ladder!

But God’s Kingdom is not like man’s. When Jesus presented a little child as the template for true spiritual greatness, he flipped humanity’s script. Little children aren’t perfect (ask any parent!), but generally speaking, they are trusting, teachable, and meek. They don’t have personal agendas or the same levels of sinful pride that adults do. They do not get swept away by power, money, celebrity, and other worldly enticements.

In God’s eyes, true greatness is found in humility. It’s one of Scripture’s beautiful paradoxes. Yet look at the example of Jesus: no one was both greater or humbler than him (Philippians 2:3-11).

Scripture calls us to exhibit childlike faith in God and his salvation for us through Christ. Childlike faith isn’t childish or immature. Rather, it’s a simple, unassuming, yet unwavering belief in the gospel message—that we are sinful people in great need of a Savior who humbled himself for our sake.

True greatness awaits! But it’s where the world would least expect it.

Now What?

Prayerfully meditate on these humility verses: Psalm 18:27; Luke 14:11; and James 4:6, 10.

Did You Know?

Humility wasn’t an admirable virtue in the ancient Greco-Roman world. To learn more, check out the July 30 devotion.