November 3, 2020 - We turn in the Gospel of Matthew to the opening verses of chapter 18. The disciples throw out a question towards Jesus as they are prone to do. Almost always, the questions they ask make us shake our heads. Let us be humbled in reading how the disciples act for we are prone to act and have acted the same way. The disciples ask the question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Christ does provide an answer, but it is not the answer we would expect. I mean when we think of greatest who do we think of? I would assume we think of strength and a strong warrior. Muhammad Ali comes to mind, but it is not limited to him. What about great thinkers? Not great in strength but perhaps great in wisdom? We all can think of someone, but they would all be wrong.
Christ calls a child over and says unless you 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 does this mean? The text is not telling adults to literally revert back to children as we sometimes feel we would want to do. We believers are called to be child-like. That is the relationship that we have with our heavenly father. It is not one of equals but one of trust. Trusting in the Almighty God. Just as a child relies upon their parent so should we be with God. Our heavenly father gives we adopted sons and daughters grace and mercy. We are given the gift of justification through Christ. Amen.
Wynter is an Elder at Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church. Find out more at MariposaChurch.org or email him at wynter@mariposachurch.org. Visit Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church on Facebook.
Pastor’s Corner is a column from Pastor Wynter Sturtevant III of the Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church.
The Church has moved locations, services are now held at the Bootjack Stompers Hall (located at 4662 Morman Bar Crossing) across from the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.
Time of service is at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday.
I am happy to announce that MRBC has its own sermon podcast. Please check it out by clicking on the link below or searching MRBC Sermons on iTunes. New sermons will be posted every Wednesday.
https://mariposachurch.transistor.fm/episodes
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