Pam Padgett ... teacher
Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus,
saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called
a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said,
Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever
therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
When the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven, the response Jesus gave was not according to the ways man
thinks. It isn't those who do what man considers to be mighty and
important who are greatest in the kingdom of heaven, but those
who humble themselves as little children. And Jesus told them that
unless they were converted (changed) to be as little children, they
would not enter the kingdom of heaven.
One of the definitions of humble is having modest or low estimate of one's own importance. While considering our "importance", I was reminded of the following ...
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Everything we have, we have receive from God. Although the flesh
wants to lift itself with pride, nothing the flesh can do profits
anything. God alone created and provides all things, and is worthy of
praise. It is what God says and does that has importance.
Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath
made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his
pasture.
All that we are, all that we have, all that we see, all that we use, all
is from God. We are His children, the sheep of His pasture. We humble
ourselves before God, doing as instructed and depending on Him, as a
little child obeys and depends on its Father.