February 20 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Matthew 18:1–3

Devotional

God’s people are not easily delivered from the sin of desiring to be the greatest. The disciples seriously wanted to know who would be the greatest among them. They even went to the Lord Jesus with this question as we read in the text. If He would tell them, then one or the other could say, “Did I not tell you that I was that person? On the other hand, it is a good thing that they come to Jesus with their question for in His presence they learn to reevaluate their desires. In the Lord’s presence all things are set aright, even if it is to one’s own shame.

“Lord, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” That is the question the disciples ask and they anxiously wait for His answer. In their foolishness every disciple hopes that the Lord’s finger will point to him. This, however, does not happen. Jesus’ response is completely different from what the disciples expected. The Lord points to a child who happened to be there and He places that child in the middle of them.

This child stands among these strange and great men. This child appears small in comparison to these sturdy fishermen. This child will immediately admit that he is the least of them all. The child feels that he is clearly nothing among these men. He needs no discussion to determine who is the least one. This is the lesson the disciples receive. The Lord’s illustration shows His disciples that they are to become like such a child.

The disciples had not expected such an answer. This child stands uncomfortably and timidly before them. But they should have been more ashamed than this child. Now they really understand who the greatest one is. This child is the greatest because he knows so very well that he is the least one. In the kingdom of God, everything is in reverse order. The greatest are the least, the best are the worst, and the highest are the lowest. In God’s kingdom the dead ones live and the ones who possess much feel they have little. In this kingdom the growth is increasing downwards; the most advanced are the ones who have been humbled the greatest. Progress is decline, and loss is profit. Truly, the least are the greatest. They are the ones who bow the lowest. As with ears of corn, the more fruit they bear the more the stalk bends downward. Have you also learned something of this? Have you also been put to shame? Remember: “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.