As we continue our series on the kingdom of heaven, today we are looking at greatness. Greatness in God’s kingdom runs counter to the notion of greatness in our fallen world where it is associated with exaltation; in the kingdom of heaven the way up is down. In Matthew 23:12 Jesus said, “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This humility is not self belittlement; rather it is a condition of the heart. In Matthew 18:1-4 the disciples pose the question, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus, after sitting a little child in the midst of them to drive His answer home says, “whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” A little child recognizes its inability, but trusts in the ability of another; a little child recognizes their lack of knowledge, but is teachable; a little child recognizes its inability to provide for itself, but relies on another; a little child does not take the credit for the families success, but delights with the family in it, because they are a part of the family! This humility is not inferiority, instead it recognizes that while we were nothing “we have become partakers of Christ”, Hebrews 3:14, and we say with the Apostle Paul “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” 1 Corinthians 15:10. We recognize that we have been made “brothers” of Jesus according to Hebrews 2:11, children of God according to Galatians 3:26, and are now joint-heirs with Jesus of all the Father’s assets and provisions according to Romans 8:17, always acknowledging from the heart that His “is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13.
Greatness In The Kingdom: Humility
-By Rose Hill
Being great isn’t what some think it to be,
But it comes with being very humble you see.
Greatness comes when we become like a child,
Humble, trusting, forgiving, and mild.
To come with true repentance there is no doubt,
We change our ways and turn about.
There is greatness in humility,
When from pride we are set free.
When we as a garment put on humility,
Then God will lift us up and His presence we will see.
1 Peter 5:5-6 “…be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.