Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 18 verses 1 through 5:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
We turn now into that section of Scripture when Jesus begins to speak of the cross, and of the self-sacrificing giving away of life, and of humility.
To be great, Jesus said, one must have the humility to change and become like a child.
Children know their place. They understand they are dependent on others. They do not lord over others. They may wish at times, but they cannot will to power. They allow themselves to love and be loved without the fear of vulnerability.
The disciples do not understand all of this. They are consumed with ideas and persons of "greatness". It must have been very frustrating to Jesus to hear them talking in this way, even as he was talking about going to the cross.
And yet, this is why he said, people must "change".
Our hearts must change. Our ideas of what and who is great must change. For it is the last who are first and the humble who are greatest in the kingdom of heaven; and it is the children who teach us how to finally act like adults.
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow's Lesson will come from John chapters 7 & 8.
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