Our scripture this morning is Matthew 18:1-5.
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.”
The disciples are honestly trying to understand all Jesus tells them, but they suffer from a crippling condition – adulthood. We all seem to reach a point where we think we know how things work. We take pride in what we think we know and compare our knowledge to that of others, vying to be the greatest.
Jesus teaches us to “turn from your sins and become like little children” (v. 3) if we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He shares eternal things that we try to comprehend with our limited human capability. Unless we humble ourselves and listen with a childlike intensity, we won’t learn His lessons.
Notice this important difference – demanding our own way and refusing to learn is childish, not the childlike openness Jesus wants from us. This is how sin entered the world, through our selfishness and disobedience. When we admit our failing and ask God to forgive us, we can be made new, born again into His grace and mercy, children of His Kingdom.
Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our arrogance and our lack of love for one another. Help us to see ourselves and others as Your blessed children, learning and growing in Your love. Amen.