13 August 2013 - kingdom criteria

13 August 2013 - kingdom criteria

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”

But Jesus doesn't answer their question immediately.

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

He tells the disciples they must "turn" (repent) and become like children.  If they do not do this they will not be able to even enter the kingdom of heaven, let alone worry about who is greatest.

To be childlike is the only true source of greatness sin the kingdom.  And, paradoxically, children are unaware of such greatness and unconcerned about it.

Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

Our motivation can't be greatness. The quality of the child which we are called to imitate is his humility.  Children are humble in that they don't rely on themselves and their own strength.  They are like Jesus, relying on his Father for everything.  This is why Jesus identifies with them so strongly.

And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.  

Children instinctively have the trust in their parents that Moses calls Israel to have in the LORD.

Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them,
for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you;
he will never fail you or forsake you.”

Our Father marches with us.  What is there for us to fear?  And so we come to a good test of the depth of our faith.  What causes us anxiety?  What day to day things make us worry?  These can only be things which we haven't surrendered to the LORD yet.  We look at them from too narrowly.  If we have anxiety and fear about getting something done or doing it successfully it must be because we're not looking beyond the short term view to God's ultimate plan for us.  We must be coming to see only the individual battles and forgetting that the LORD is leading us to the promised land.

The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og,
the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed,
and with their country.

The only good way to see how our present circumstances fit into our larger pilgrimage toward heaven is to reflect on how God has worked in our past.

Think back on the days of old,
reflect on the years of age upon age.

We will see how much the LORD treasures us.  He will leave the ninety-nine in the hills to search us out and bring us back.  And when he finds us he rejoices over us!  Imagine, God rejoicing over us! Yet that is what we read.

While the LORD’s own portion was Jacob,
his hereditary share was Israel.

The LORD doesn't lead us around the battles of life but he does lead us through them.  It is the he who marches with us.  We will never be abandoned!

For I will sing the LORD’s renown.
Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock–how faultless are his deeds,
how right all his ways!