Causing the Little to Stumble

Matt. 18:10-14

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!

How to be Great in the Kingdom

What do we have to do to be great in Jesus eye?

Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me." (Mark 9:36-37 NASB)

"The higher we rise in the Kingdom the more we shall be like Jesus in this humbling of Himself. Childlikeness such as He exhibited is an invariable characteristic of spiritual advancement, even as its  absence is the mark of moral littleness. The little man, even when well intentioned, is ever consequential and scheming...ever thinking of himself, his honor, dignity, reputation, even when professedly doing good. He always studies to glorify God in a way that shall at the same time glorify himself. The great ones in the kingdom, on the other hand, throw themselves with such unreserved ness into the work to which they are called, that they shall obtain time nor inclination to inquire what place they shall obtain in this world or the next." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce

Children do not think about how important the child is next to them in order that they might play with them. You don't put children together and watch them say to each other, "Well he looks important enough to play with?" No, they simply find each other interesting enough that they simply play together. Neither are scheming about how smart they are against each other or how much more sentimental they are as opposed to the other. They simply come to "play." 

The disciples didn't get that. They would have rather talked about who would be greater than the next. They didn't understand the concept of the simple "calling" Jesus placed upon their lives. 

This is why Jesus took the small child in His lap. The child was there and did what he came for; to come give him a hug and sit near him. No further agenda...

How complicated have we become as far as the kingdom goes? Just come today and sit at the Savior's feet and listen to Him today. Sit up in your Heavenly Father's lap today. Have some fellowship with Him with no other agenda!

A Discourse on Humility

Luke 9:46-48

After the discourse of the Transfiguration, Jesus was much in thought about the impending cross He was to carry. He had just entrusted James, John, and Peter with the view from Heaven. They had a chance to see Jesus meet with two heavenly hosts who comforted him in His time of need. Jesus charged them not share the event with anyone though...why?

It didn't take long before the three had already forgotten what Jesus told them about His impending death, for soon afterward they were talking amongst themselves of who would be the greatest in the kingdom to come! Surely after witnessing the event of the Transfiguration that would have changed them? 

Nope....

They had their eyes set on the kingdom here on this earth. 

Sometimes, I think we become so enamored with the world and our riches here as Christians, we fail to see the other side. We become so earthly that we are no heavenly good for His kingdom. 

Just think; Jesus trusted just "them" with the witness of the Transfiguration. He shared that just with three men! 

Were they special? You bet. Were they special to Him? You bet! As a child of God we are so special to Him. Ask Him today to show you something special that no one else has seen through reading His Word. Then remember; He shared it just with you! 

Now...what will you do with that encounter today? Will you go on a few minutes from now like nothing ever happened or cherish it with an eternal view? Remember, He spoke to You! He is a real and personal God who wants to speak to you. You are special!

The Cost

Notes from Luke 9:31...

What does the "Cost" mean to us?

Jesus took comfort from the two witnesses he encountered before his death before they disappeared into the clouds:
"A great source of comfort to Jesus in the experience on the mount, was the assurance that the mystery of the cross was understood and appreciated by saints in heaven, if not by the darkened minds of sinful me on earth." (Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pg. 193)
"There was not one to whom He could speak on that theme with any hope of eliciting an intelligent and sympathetic response." (193)
"He had to be content to finish His great work without the comfort of being understood until it we finished." (193)
Now the disciples were left after Jesus ascension. What would they do? Would they understand all He shared with them to do and say? This question is as much alive today in the hearts of believers as it was some 2000 years ago for the disciples. What will you do with this man called Jesus? How will you respond to the call He has placed upon your lives today? Will we be people of an "intelligent and sympathetic response?"
Join each week at Grace Community Church for the answers to their lives as we continue in the Book of Acts! See you at 11:00 AM!

What Does Following Jesus Look Like?

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24 NASB)

Concerning our willingness to follow the way of the cross...

In the words of A.B. Bruce, 

"The great ambition of the millions is to be happy as 'animals,' not to be blessed as 'saved,' noble spirited men.

This animalistic behavior is to have our needs and all our wants fulfilled. The redemption of our soul is precious; it cannot be delivery from the bondage of sin by corrupt able things though. There, things only make our case more hopeless.

Maybe this is it (after careful thought): "Where faith and hope are not, little Christian heroism will be found." {A. B. Bruce}

Maybe this is why so many Christians have trouble living their lives for Jesus without struggling in their faith of whether they are saved sometimes or wondering whether they will surrender their lives to serving Him. They don't believe in the "reality" of the Kingdom...

Soldiers die each day for the hope of a freedom one day they will enjoy. New immigrants to this nation became a part of us with the hope of a reality of a nation they would enjoy one day.

Maybe it is because many Christians have not succumbed to the reality of the Kingdom of God because they do not understand Jesus' words of "take up thy cross" and follow me.

Taking Up Your Cross & Living Your Potential

In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said (to His disciples) "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." (NASB)

A.B. Bruce states "But these truths are much lost sight of in peaceful, prosperous times...of this cross we are determined to know nothing. What can it mean, or whence it can come, they cannot comprehend, because they have no need of it..." 

"They manufacture artificial crosses out of ascetic austerities." 

{A. B. Bruce}

These "artificial crosses" are invented each day by people who claim to be "Christians." Us. Folks, we don't give half as much as we should for our Savior. We treat our bosses at work better than Him. In the meantime, we use excuses for things we do and say and try to blame our pain because of "Satanic" oppression, when we are the culprits of our own anguish.

How much do you owe to Him today? Live to your potential for Him, beginning today!