Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Special And Protected

"Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 'Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.' " - Mat 18:4-6 ESV

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." - Mar 9:42 ESV

"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin." - Luk 17:2 ESV

This account is repeated in three of the Gospels. It must have been powerful. Jesus didn't threaten people very often. He was basically announcing that all the children of the world were under God's protection.

Don't hurt the little ones. God is saying you will regret what will happen to you if you do and He means it.

I think of the edification that one child must have received by being singled out that way at a formative age. Jesus showed that child to the crowd and said, 'The quality that this one exhibits today are the same qualities that the greatest ones in Heaven will have exhibited.'

Wow.

He didn't compare the child to other children. He didn't praise ability or appearance. He recognized humility and put that humility on display.

Do you know that when God sees you He won't ignore you or think you are a second class believer? If he saw you today He would single you out and explain to the crowd how wonderful you are. He loves you. You are under His protection. He thinks you are very special.

I think Heaven will be interesting. We will all want to be with Jesus but once we are with Him I imagine He will be spending time embracing people and singling them out to the crowd and telling a story of a time when they acted by faith. Aren't we all trophies of grace? God's grace has made us into people that glorify God.

Oh God. Humble like a little child. Humble like that little child. Make us that way. By your Spirit... fill us... help us... convict us... remind us. Thank You God.

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