Jesus uses a child as an example for his disciples. Everybody loves children, right?
Okay, maybe I just wanted an excuse to show a picture of my grandkids.
But, really… There is something absolutely endearing about watching kids grow up. It always seems the things they are doing today, they were unable to do just days ago. They are exploring, learning, becoming. Every day.
Do you know adults that never learned to do adult things? They don’t share, they don’t contribute. They only think of themselves. These people are childISH, not childLIKE. What do you think of people who have stunted growth like that? Is it easy to have relationships with those people?
Jesus had started drilling in to his disciples what would be happening to him next:
Mark 9:31 (ESV)
“The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
This is heavy stuff, right? Shouldn’t they be concerned with where this is going? Yet, they did not seem to be that way… Because the very next thing that happens is this:
Mark 9:33–34 (ESV)
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
After what Jesus had been teaching them, why do you think they were only thinking about themselves?
Is this like us? Like a child, do we focus on “what’s in it for me?”
What affect does this kind of focus have on our relationships with others?
What affect does this kind of focus have on our relationship with Christ?
Matthew 18:3–4 (ESV)
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
What? Isn’t this the opposite of how the world programs us to become great? What does the world.. What does the FLESH tell us to do in order to become great?
Proverbs 15:33 (ESV)
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Philippians 2:3–11 (NLT)
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What would it look like to humble myself? What might this mean
- in my workplace?
- in my marriage?
- in my church?
Even though this child-like approach is the opposite of the worldly approach… It is very simple. Yet it is very difficult for us to actually do. Spend a few minutes in prayer together for the Holy Spirit to work in us, killing our pride, and helping us become like little children, humble before God and others so that HE may be glorified.
Have you guys started discussing your Tailgate Tent setup yet? I am always really impressed with the way you pull that off.
Make sure everyone in your group knows to bring lawnchairs! We are renting a few plastic chairs, in case some don’t remember.