It is a competitive world and it seems we humans are always striving to come out on top. But, Jesus taught the benefits of equality. This is Good Words Ministry and I’m Wanda Hartley Butts with these good words about
BEING EQUAL
Jesus chose a young child from the crowd of people and turned the spotlight on it. He warned the rest to not look down upon, even a single child. He related that in heaven some angels have the specific duty of watching over children, and these angels have direct access to God. If their angels have direct line to God, the least we can do is to allow children easy access to us and not turn them away when they come to us for help, or block their way when they are seeking the help of God.
After that, Jesus stated that the descendant (Son) of man (which was Him) came to save that which was lost. With that statement, and the illustration of the child, everyone in that crowd should have been able to see themselves as just one of God’s children who need God’s help to be rescued from our lost state.
Then, Jesus asked the people what they thought of this incident: If a man has a hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? And if he finds it, won’t he rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine others safe at home! Then Jesus stated: Even so, it is not my Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
When we look behind this parable, we can see that Jesus is telling this crowd that that is why He is here on earth—to search for God’s lost children. He left the security of heaven and those who were already there, to rescue His Father’s lost creation who had wandered away from their Father. Why did Jesus do that? He answers it himself: Because it is not his Father’s will that any creature, no matter how little they were, for them to lose their ability to live while here on earth. .
We come in contact with God’s creation everyday who need Christ-- at home, at school, in church, and in the neighborhood. Believers, who have been saved, should steer others toward Christ by our example, our words, and our acts of kindness. People need human examples of love to help them realize that God loves. That is why Jesus came to earth as a human, the Son of man: to be a human example of God’s love--to sacrifice himself for the salvation of human beings.
Luke 18:16 relates that Jesus called the disciples unto him, and said, allow little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God (implying that the kingdom of God is made up of children).
Matthew 18:2-5 says that Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted (meaning--change your mind-set), and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.
That’s being equal. Jesus made that statement after the disciples came to him asking, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Jesus used a child to help his self-centered disciples get the point. People are to be humble and childlike (trusting and dependant people with no status or influence), if they become part of God’s kingdom. The entrance into and the sharing of God’s kingdom is not for the superior, but the equal.
