Day 7: Humility
Day 7: Humility
Don Young
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4
Marlen and I were having our time together in the Upper Room and we read Matthew 18. Two words jumped out at us: "humble" and "child."
In the context of the passage Jesus is responding to the question the disciples asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” That’s an interesting question to be asked by disciples who were thinking of position, power, and prestige. Jesus, knowing this, responded with a powerful living illustration—one that I am sure the disciples were not prepared to receive. Jesus calls a child to himself and presents the child to his disciples and then hits them with verses 3 and 4. Verse 3 was concerning salvation, and verse 4 was concerning positions of greatness in the kingdom. He says in verse 4, “Whoever then humbles himself…”
Humility is a prerequisite to being Kingdom ready. I love what St. Augustine once said, “For those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second thing, humility is the third thing.” The disciples had an agenda—to see who could be the greatest. It was a fleshly, prideful agenda. Jesus rebukes that spirit by saying be humble as a child. They had to learn that status in the kingdom was opposite of status from the world. He repeated this truth in Matthew 20:16-26 by saying that the first will be last, and that if you wanted to rule, you had to serve.
Friends today let's get Kingdom ready by repenting from our pride and humbling ourselves before our Lord. It’s the way of the Kingdom!
Lord Jesus today I repent from my earthly agendas and pride that would entice me to seek the praise of men rather then to serve you humbly and childlike. Help me today to understand better your Kingdom ways. In Jesus name, AMEN!
Don Young
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4
Marlen and I were having our time together in the Upper Room and we read Matthew 18. Two words jumped out at us: "humble" and "child."
In the context of the passage Jesus is responding to the question the disciples asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” That’s an interesting question to be asked by disciples who were thinking of position, power, and prestige. Jesus, knowing this, responded with a powerful living illustration—one that I am sure the disciples were not prepared to receive. Jesus calls a child to himself and presents the child to his disciples and then hits them with verses 3 and 4. Verse 3 was concerning salvation, and verse 4 was concerning positions of greatness in the kingdom. He says in verse 4, “Whoever then humbles himself…”
Humility is a prerequisite to being Kingdom ready. I love what St. Augustine once said, “For those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second thing, humility is the third thing.” The disciples had an agenda—to see who could be the greatest. It was a fleshly, prideful agenda. Jesus rebukes that spirit by saying be humble as a child. They had to learn that status in the kingdom was opposite of status from the world. He repeated this truth in Matthew 20:16-26 by saying that the first will be last, and that if you wanted to rule, you had to serve.
Friends today let's get Kingdom ready by repenting from our pride and humbling ourselves before our Lord. It’s the way of the Kingdom!
Lord Jesus today I repent from my earthly agendas and pride that would entice me to seek the praise of men rather then to serve you humbly and childlike. Help me today to understand better your Kingdom ways. In Jesus name, AMEN!
Posted in 2023 Breakthrough Fast
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