Verse: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)
Meditation: “Who is the greatest?” If that isn’t the most teenaged response to anything, let alone Jesus, I don’t know what is. The disciples are literally looking face to face at the Greatest and they’re hoping he’ll respond with, “Well, if you do X, Y, and Z, you will be.” And it’s not the last time this happens either! How often do we read this, shaking our heads at the oblivious nature of the disciples and miss the whole point? Humility is the great equalizer. Why do we think we have to be the greatest at anything to know Jesus? Why should our faith be a performance? Why can’t we be like children, excited to simply sit at Jesus’ feet?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, crush the need to make faith life a competition in me and in ____________. Help them to know that no one is greater than You. Lord, use me as someone who encourages deeper faith in their life. Help me to model (and have) a desire to humble myself before you and spend time in your presence. Amen.