The Third
Sunday of Easter: Matthew 18
Jesus and the disciples are still in Capernaum as this
chapter begins. Jesus has told the disciples twice now that he is going to die,
but rather than being focused on trying to grasp the meaning of what they have
been told, their focus is on which one of them will be the greatest in the
Kingdom of heaven. They are thinking man-thoughts. To stifle their query, and
set them straight, Jesus brings a child before them, and tells them ‘Whoever
humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’
Children are totally transparent and have an uncanny knack for seeing things as they are...and on occasion blurting out their observations at the most inappropriate time! When my girls were little I had one of their little friends with us in a department store – where we encountered a very large man – and she asked me in a very large voice, “Is he fluffy?” Obviously her mother, thinking that she might avert potential embarrassment someday, had taught her to say fluffy instead of fat. I don’t think it worked. Her inquiry wasn’t meant to be unkind. There was just no mask.
Jesus doesn’t want us to have masks – with Him or with others. No pretense. Sometimes we even lie to ourselves – to our detriment. Jesus is real – and he wants us to be real. He wants our openness to Him to be as that of a little child. Children have a right view of authority. They know who the adults are to whom they are accountable – and that is their foundation for creating right relationships and relational responsibility.
True humility is not denigrating. It is simply knowing God is God and I’m not. As long as I keep the right perspective, keeping Him in his rightful place, being obedient to His leading – I’ll fare well. A person can be absolutely humble and still acknowledge they are good at something as a gifting from the Lord. Skill shouldn’t create pride. It creates responsibility and an awareness of stewardship of His gifts. And – with any of the gifts God has given any of us, we don’t have to look far to see someone who is ‘even better.’ Perhaps that helps keep us from becoming pride-filled – though comparisons are not actually healthy. But we are admonished not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, and that is an important factor for a positive perspective. What is truly healthy is celebrating each others’ gifts and being nurturing and supportive in affirming people’s use of their gifts to honor the Lord – and to give HIM the glory, honor, thanks and praise for the person and their giftings. There are many people I thank God for. I need to remember more often to thank them too!
Children are totally transparent and have an uncanny knack for seeing things as they are...and on occasion blurting out their observations at the most inappropriate time! When my girls were little I had one of their little friends with us in a department store – where we encountered a very large man – and she asked me in a very large voice, “Is he fluffy?” Obviously her mother, thinking that she might avert potential embarrassment someday, had taught her to say fluffy instead of fat. I don’t think it worked. Her inquiry wasn’t meant to be unkind. There was just no mask.
Jesus doesn’t want us to have masks – with Him or with others. No pretense. Sometimes we even lie to ourselves – to our detriment. Jesus is real – and he wants us to be real. He wants our openness to Him to be as that of a little child. Children have a right view of authority. They know who the adults are to whom they are accountable – and that is their foundation for creating right relationships and relational responsibility.
True humility is not denigrating. It is simply knowing God is God and I’m not. As long as I keep the right perspective, keeping Him in his rightful place, being obedient to His leading – I’ll fare well. A person can be absolutely humble and still acknowledge they are good at something as a gifting from the Lord. Skill shouldn’t create pride. It creates responsibility and an awareness of stewardship of His gifts. And – with any of the gifts God has given any of us, we don’t have to look far to see someone who is ‘even better.’ Perhaps that helps keep us from becoming pride-filled – though comparisons are not actually healthy. But we are admonished not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, and that is an important factor for a positive perspective. What is truly healthy is celebrating each others’ gifts and being nurturing and supportive in affirming people’s use of their gifts to honor the Lord – and to give HIM the glory, honor, thanks and praise for the person and their giftings. There are many people I thank God for. I need to remember more often to thank them too!
Once children are on Jesus’ mind, he spends a bit of time there. I especially love the reference to going after the lost sheep – totally in context of keeping kids connected to their faith.
Ahhhh! Jesus’ teaching about how to treat a brother who sins is another tough one. It sounds good on paper – but in practice it doesn’t always work out. Actually He even addresses that – but when I tried it a few years ago, thinking God was going to teach me how to handle conflict by handling it with someone who was a professing Christian, it didn’t go well at all. I did everything I believed the Lord asked of me, and it turned out horribly. I chalk that up to free will. I did follow through as I felt I was directed, but the other person had a choice of how they reacted. I ultimately had to just defer to the Lord and let it go….
The last story in this chapter actually ties in quite nicely to the topic of unresolved issues. Peter comes to Jesus, thinking he’s going to get kudos for his generosity in suggesting forgiving up to 7 times. After all, custom only demanded 3 times. Sort of the original 3 strikes and you’re out. But, shockingly, Jesus doesn’t applaud Peter. He expands the number to 77 times. Sometimes it is even translated 70 times 7 times, which would be 490 times. I think the point Jesus is making is that we aren’t to keep track. And, like his model in the Lord’s prayer, we are to forgive others; and by that same standard, we will be forgiven. It is no lightweight matter with the Lord.
Still, for those truly tough issues I know I can only
forgive from the heart – as He
demands – with His help. I’m so grateful for the Holy Spirit’s work in my life.
He brings things to my attention at just the right time, then helps me work
through whatever the ‘thing’ is. The older I get the more I realize how much
God has done for me. His forgiveness is incredible...and I need to forgive just
as wholly as He does. Those are big shoes to step into. I’m sure glad His feet
fit in the shoes with mine. I’ve had a few difficult circumstances I’ve needed
to forgive … but when I think of the really huge issues – like someone intentionally
taking a child’s life or like the cruelty rampant in the holocaust – or other
war crimes since then – I quickly acknowledge I have not been asked to forgive
nearly as much as many others. Talk about grace. Lord, that kind of gargantuan forgiveness can only come
through you.
The messages in this chapter boil down to: ‘loving God, loving people.’ I am so grateful for the loving people I see and know who love God and love each other. What a model of what heaven will be like.
The messages in this chapter boil down to: ‘loving God, loving people.’ I am so grateful for the loving people I see and know who love God and love each other. What a model of what heaven will be like.
Humor for today:
One four-year-old prayed the following prayer: “And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”
That seemed appropriate for today....
This one is cute, too:
During the minister’s prayer on Sunday morning there was a loud whistle from the back row. The Mom of the culprit gave him a quick pinch, followed by ‘the look’ to silence him – and after church she asked him what made him do such a thing.
“Well,” her son replied, “Pastor told us that if we had any unspoken requests, we could ask God for them during his prayer – and I asked God to teach me to whistle – and He just did it right then.”
One four-year-old prayed the following prayer: “And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”
That seemed appropriate for today....
This one is cute, too:
During the minister’s prayer on Sunday morning there was a loud whistle from the back row. The Mom of the culprit gave him a quick pinch, followed by ‘the look’ to silence him – and after church she asked him what made him do such a thing.
“Well,” her son replied, “Pastor told us that if we had any unspoken requests, we could ask God for them during his prayer – and I asked God to teach me to whistle – and He just did it right then.”
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