March 29

The Child In The Midst

Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. — Matt 18:2-3 BSB

Our Lord wanted to show what true greatness is. First, it begins with humility. Without it, no one can be His disciple (Matthew 18:4). A child is naturally humble until the world teaches them to focus on themselves. Like Naaman, we must be made new, like a child. Some are proud of their humility and expect recognition for it, but that’s not the kind of humility Christ speaks of.

The next quality of greatness is love. We must welcome and cherish Christ-like souls, no matter their status. There’s a stark contrast between the boy in Matthew 17:14-18, who was afflicted, and the child Jesus embraced. But to both, Jesus showed love. The one He healed; the other He gathered into His arms. Jesus likely only needed a small gesture to bring the child to His side, and from that moment, He taught us about greatness. We must not look down on even the least among us, for they hold a special place in Christ’s heart. He revealed that the youngest and weakest are watched over by the highest angels who stand before God.

The third mark of true greatness is a spirit that sacrifices self and considers others. We must be careful not to cause even the weakest of Christ’s followers to stumble. We should be willing to give up anything, even something as dear as a hand or an eye, rather than cause grief to God’s Spirit. Our actions, even in the smallest matters, must be weighed by their impact on others.

Prayer

Grant us, O Lord, true humility, a loving and helpful heart, a life devoted to others, and a desire to please You in all things. Amen.