The Child

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

THE CHILD

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

It is interesting that Luke records a slightly difference account than Matthew although Mark records this event the same as Luke. The point is the same in that Jesus took a child and made a compassion of what a child is and who the disciples were. However, Matthew’s account informs us that Jesus told them in order to even enter the kingdom of God they needed to change the way they think, becoming like a little child, and in doing that they would be the greatest in the kingdom. This is all about living a humble life. Jesus, although he is God, did not come to earth to be served as a God should be, but to serve. He offered himself for the very people he created, paying the punishment that He as God demanded for sin, so that we did not have to. That is the purest form of love, while also demonstrating the highest degree of humility in suffering to cross. To argue who is the greatest is the opposite of humility, which is pride. A child has nothing to be prideful about, yet here we adults are always comparing our greatness. How we know more, have more degrees, a better title, or position in life, and even in the body of Christ. We boast about our accomplishments, how many good things we have done, as individuals and as a church. The world expects us to boast, to produce a resume of all our experience and accomplishments, even the highest degree of our education. Everything is about how great we are. Even within some churches, those who have the title of pastor must give an annual account of all they activities, and how much they did. This makes us feel like we are boasting in order to maintain our position and title. It simply is not about who is the greatest, but how we should live humbly before our God and before people. Then we are welcoming the humble child as we welcome our humble Savior into our lives, serving rather than looking to be served. However, we must also be careful not to serve or be the least with the agenda of being the greatest. That is why the child is there in this verse. The child has no agenda, no accomplishments to boast about, no good deeds to brag about, no formal training or title to be prideful about. Children only know to believe what they are told. Let is remember we are the children of God. Therefore let us live like a child.