While yet the disciples were walking the road, each of them deciding who would be the greatest, Jesus took the opportunity to teach them about the "Little Ones."
While this passage does not seem to correlate with the previous passages in 18:7-9; it really does! While the previous passages (18:7-9) deal with the offenses to "oneself," and not the next passages (18:10-14) which deal with offences against "others," we realize that all offenses against a brother or sister are actually offenses against ourselves. He wanted the disciples to understand that "self-interest dictates scrupulous care in avoiding offenses to the little ones." (Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 205)
The issue here is that when we offend the "little ones" or the least in the kingdom, we sin against our own selves. When we harm those, we are guilty of being out of harmony with the mindset of heaven. Jesus said "take heed" (vs. 10) "that you despise not one of these little ones."
Sometimes we get so busy in the service of the Lord we sometimes are consumed by what we are doing for the "Kingdom" that we ignore the needs of those who need our assistance or ignore them all together. This week as our church prepared for Vacation Bible School I asked myself this exact question. While busy doing something and trying to finish up, someone came up to me and wanted to talk to me. I found myself having to intentionally stop what I was doing and speak with them. I had to reflect upon my reading and ask myself this question, "Am I really that busy that I don't have time?"
Jesus told the disciples in a matter of speaking that the little ones have their own own angels in heaven (vs. 11) who look out for their care. If they are important enough for Jesus to mention it to the disciples, it has to be relevant to the believer today, since we too are disciples of Christ. Think on these things today and remember the "little ones!"
And by the way... thank you Lord for allowing me to respond to your guidance this week!
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