Back to the Bible: Matthew 18:1-14
The disciples asked Jesus about kingdom greatness. Jesus turned their notions of greatness on their head. Citizenship and greatness in the kingdom demanded becoming like little children. That is, it would require recognizing that you don’t have anything to offer and that you are dependent on the provision of the Lord.
Receiving, caring, for one who could not provide for his or herself, in the service of Jesus, is how we receive Jesus. But, it would be better for us to suffer horrific death than to cause someone to sin. Of course, temptations come in the world. But, we definitely don’t want to be the means by which that temptation comes.
In fact, we want to remove anything that would cause us to stumble. Using hyperbolic language, Jesus explains that there is nothing precious enough to hold on to that would be worth missing out on heaven and being sentenced to hell.
Watching out for the ones who are little in the faith is important because they have angels who represent them before the Father. While we may not understand how that works, it certainly reflects the importance of these souls to the Lord. That should shape our attitude toward them as well.
Any shepherd would know how important a lost sheep is, even when there are ninety-nine in safety. Saving the lost sheep causes tremendous celebration. That is how the Father views the young ones in the faith. So, as the Father is concerned about lost sheep, we should be too and should certainly be careful in causing anyone to stumble.
Lessons to Learn:
The path to greatness is downward. In the kingdom of God greatness doesn’t come by power or dominance. Rather, it comes by recognizing our need and humbling ourselves under the will of the Father (see James 4:10). It is just fine, good even, to seek greatness in the kingdom. But, realize that the path is through humility before the Lord.
There is nothing worth losing out on eternal life. There are stories about people trapped who had to remove a limb to save their lives. As brutal as it is, we see that it was a price that needed to be paid. No relationship, job, position, feeling, or pleasure is worth missing out on heaven. Whatever stands between you and the Lord, cut it off.
If you’re a wandering sheep, the Shepherd longs to bring you in. He would rejoice at your return despite where you’ve been.
If you know a lost sheep, remember the Lord’s desire. He wants them back in safety. We should work toward that and rejoice if they return.
We are thankful to share considerations of God’s word. It’s best if you have a Bible close at hand and evaluate what we say. We always want to go “back to the Bible” for what we teach. To reach us with your questions and comments or to request a personal Bible study email us at info@backtothebiblepodcast.com.
