Friday April 02nd, 2021
Memorize: 1 John 4:8 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
« God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him. »
Read: Matthew 18:1-7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
1 At that time the disciples came up and asked Jesus,
Who then is [really] the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them,
3 And said,
“Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving],
you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].
4 Whoever will humble themselves therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving]
is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me.
6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices them or hinders them in right conduct or thought],
it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong!
It is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the person on whose account or by whom the temptation comes!
Message:
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus’ disciples were asking Him “Who will be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” He answered by putting a little child in front of them. He went on to say that anyone who wants to enter the kingdom of Heaven at all has to be like a little child.
Matthew 18:3 NLT says:
« Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. »
What makes children good models?
– First, children do not understand bitterness; they do not keep malice If you offend a little boy and he says he will not play with you anymore, five minutes later, you would most likely see him running all over you again.
The heart of a little child is full of love and that’s exactly what God expects of His children.
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-39:
… 37 Jesus said to him,
“‘You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”
If you want to enter Heaven at all, you have to love like a little child.
– Little children love irrespective of status, they do not care whether you are a pauper or the President; they play with everyone the same way.
– They do not keep records of wrongdoings; if you wrong a child now, few minutes later, he or she would have forgotten about the matter.
Do you love like a child?
Do you show love to even those who offend you?
Do you discriminate against the cleaner in your office just because the fellow is junior to you?
How do you speak to your house help?
All these things will show if you are like a child or not.
They will determine whether you will enter the kingdom of Heaven or not.
As for me, even if you step on my toes from now until tomorrow. I will not allow you to send me to hell so I will continue to show you love. We may not be friends because Jesus didn’t say we should be friends with everybody, but I will still love you.
I will forgive you even before you offend me. I will not wish you evil or withhold benefits from you just because you offended me. If you want to make Heaven, love like a child.
Prayer point: Father, please help me to love and forgive like a child.
Author: Pst E. A Adeboye
Text edited by Naomie
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