Childlike

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

CHILDLIKE

Luke 9:46-48

46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all — he is the greatest." 

NIV

Although Luke uses the word welcomes in reference to this child, Matthew records that Jesus told them unless they change and become like children they shall not see the kingdom of God. This agrees with the last portion of what Luke recorded in that the one who is the least is the greatest. Two truth here for us. First we note there was an argument among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. We can be pretty sure they had not yet really grasped the spiritual nature of the kingdom of God. It would surely seem they were thinking as Jews who were waiting for the Messiah to set up his earthy reign on earth, kicking out the Roman oppressors and having Israel once again at its glory. Because they were so close to him, chosen in fact by him, they surely must have thought they would be one of the principle players, the hierarchy of his kingdom. This kind of thinking is based on pride and ambition. This first of two lessons for us today is in the fact Jesus knew their hearts. It does not matter what we say, or how we seem to act, Jesus knows our thoughts. We can put up that façade for the rest of the church, or even the world, appearing to be Christ-like, or at least saying we are, but Jesus knows our thoughts. Are we filled with selfish ambition? Do we want to be in the leadership of the church? Do we think more of ourselves, as special because we are on the board, teach Sunday school, or some other position with a close relationship to the pastor? Do we want others to see us as spiritual giants, able to quote the scriptures? Do we want them to think we are so humble and obedient to Christ? Jesus knows our heart and thoughts, we might be able to fool some of the people, but we cannot fool Jesus.  So Jesus takes a child and tells them they must be like that, welcome that child, change to be like a child in respect to being in the kingdom. What did he mean? It would seem children for the most part are without pride, ambition and haughtiness. They are humble and teachable. The have complete trust in their parents and teachers. They believe what they are told, for the most part they do not question it. This is the second part of our lesson. We need to be like children in that respect, without pride, without ambition and haughtiness. We need to remain teachable throughout out whole life, always willing to learn more truth, hungering for more truth, eager to grow in the truth, but remaining humble before God and men. We need to trust our Father, believe what he tells us. It would seem if we allow ambition, even spiritual ambition to creep into our life, we border on the dangerous. What is the purpose for our doing anything, those good works in the kingdom? Should it not be for the benefit of our fellow believers, just as the fruit of the Spirit? All that we do, should be as a servant to others. Even if it is teaching, or preaching, writing books, or being on the board, or vacuuming the carpet, we should be doing it out of respect for others, serving them in some way, without any ambition, without any pride, without self-aggrandizement. We need to be like a child, then in fact according to Jesus we are one of the greatest of his children. It seems easy, but it may not be that easy to be childlike.