HOW TO BECOME THE GREATEST IN THE KINGOM OF HEAVEN – Matthew 18:1
Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
The disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus replied that unless they became as a little child, they could not enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus went on to say that if you were humble as a child, then you would be great in the kingdom of heaven. Another time Jesus told HIS’ disciples that “If any man desired to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (Mark 9:34).
Christianity will change your perspective on life. As long as you are a slave to sin, your focus is upon yourself and what you can obtain for yourself. When you choose to allow the blood of Christ to remove the chains that bind you to sin, you now choose to be a servant of God. However, just because you are a servant of God, it does not automatically mean that you will seek God’s perfect will for your life. It does not mean that you will maintain a humble spirit.
Your relationship with God must change your mindset. If you desire to be all that you can be for God, then you must follow Christ’s commandment and maintain a humble spirit here on this earth. Rather than allowing pride and your sin nature to control how you respond to others, you must obey God and do HIS perfect will by responding correctly.
Jesus said that you must become as a little child. In this passage, a little child refers to either an infant or a very young child. A little child cannot take care of itself absent the help of its parents or another adult. Because a little child is not self-sustaining, it must yield its own will to the will of its parents or else face serious consequences. While some parents might eventually yield to a little child who is throwing a temper tantrum, your heavenly Father will always be there to assist you in pursuing HIS best for your life.
In order to become as a little child, you must voluntarily follow Christ’s commandment to love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. You must be willing to put God and others first. Jesus demonstrated this principle when at the last supper HE washed HIS disciples feet. Jesus was the Son of God, all HE had to do was say the words and a million angels would have come down from heaven and all the disciple’s feet would have been cleaned. Instead Jesus humbled HIMSELF so that you might have an example of what attitude you must maintain.
God has commanded that you maintain a humble spirit. It is your choice whether you are going to obey God and pursue HIS perfect will for your life or whether you are going to fill up your mind with thoughts of pride. The choice is yours; God will not force you to be humble. However, God has rewards for you that you will never obtain if you do not change your mindset in order to pursue the things of God.
To obey Christ’s command and to humble yourself will require a change in your mindset. You will need to fill up your mind with the things of God in order to leave no room for the world, the flesh and the devil. By adding virtue to your life, you will enable yourself to remain humble and obey Christ and please God. In order to be great, you must become least, in order to become least, you must change your mindset.