Harlots and Publicans in the Kingdom of Heaven

The harlots, the publicans will go into the kingdom first --

We all know what a harlot is- but do we know what a publican was?

Definition- In antiquity, publicans - were public contractors, in which role they often supplied the Roman legions and military, managed the collection of port duties, and oversaw public building projects. In addition, they served as tax collectors for the Republic (and later the Roman Empire), bidding on contracts (from the Senate in Rome) for the collection of various types of taxes.

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Harlots were known sinners, and publicans as well were known for their less than honest dealings with people.

Read the following--

Mat 21:23  And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

Jesus speaking with the chief priests and the elders of the people...

Mat 21:28  But what think ye?
A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
Mat 21:30  And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Mat 21:31  Whether of them twain did the will of his father?

Mat 21:31...  They say unto him, The first.

Mat 21:31... Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Mat 21:32  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

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The sinners believed, the so called righteous - the chief priests and elders of God's people did NOT believe. 

Here they are, those who are supposed to be the pillars of God's truth and they were rejecting the truth while others who were supposed to be the devil's own children were believing and accepting the truth.

It will not be those who profess godliness without any real truth in them that will be in the kingdom of God.  The kingdom is NOT going to be filled with pastors, preachers, priests, popes, ministers, deacons, bishops, elders, men and women who wear the mantle of a religious profession.  The kingdom of heaven is going to be filled with TRUTH SEEKERS and those truth seekers are not going to be caught up in the lies of so many religious professions. 

Those who seek truth, those who seek Christ will be in the kingdom of Christ. Those who set themselves us as being gods upon earth having authority over others, making up their own rules and laws, attributing to God so much that He never intended, setting up their own religions based upon lies, these people no matter who they are will NOT be in the kingdom of God. Their hearts are NOT with God, but on SELF!

The kingdom of God will be filled with those who comprehend their sinfulness and look to Christ for His forgiveness. These sinners will look to God for all things. These sinners will depend upon God for everything! These sinners KNOW they are nothing and Christ is everything! These sinners do NOT assume anything of themselves.  Christ is all in all!

Please Lord, be our all in all!

We are sinners, Lord, we need You, we need Your forgiveness. Help us to NEVER assume we are ever good enough, it is YOU and YOU alone who are righteous, You and You alone who are good. We cling to You Lord, we holdfast to You and pray You holdfast to us!  All by YOUR grace, Lord!  Forgive us, we are such awful sinners! Forgive us, Lord, please, forgive us. We would be with You in the kingdom, Your kingdom!

By YOUR LOVE!

The first shall be last, and the last shall be first

The world's standards of fairness are not God's.  If we desire God to be fair as we imagine fairness we are on the wrong path. 

Our idea of fairness means equality. And that equality means in the following parable the man complaining is right. Read the following about the Kingdom of Heaven...

Mat 20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4  And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5  Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6  And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7  They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Do you see? The man said it's only fair they get paid more money, they worked longer, harder. They did work longer and harder, so do they deserve more? We want to say yes. But the truth was they agreed upon a set wage. That man was NOT cheated out of the agreed upon wage. They agreed to work for a penny and he gave them a penny.  What he agreed with the others really, truthfully was none of their concern.  They felt cheated when in truth there was no cheating at all. It wasn't any of their business if the man wanted to hire others and pay them the same. Their own selfishness demanded they resent someone working only a fraction of the length of time and getting the same pay. The cry, 'Not fair! Not fair!' ringing out loudly, and it would be the same today.  Would you feel the same resentment? Answer honestly.  Our flesh nature almost demands it.

The last shall be first.
The first shall be last.
Many will be called.
Few will be chosen.

The kingdom of heaven is like this man who hired laborers, many laborers and treated them all with fairness from the first hired to the last hired.

There is no special treatment in heaven. There will be no favored. The idea of such stuff is foreign to heaven.  It's our fleshy sinful nature that demands to be first, that demands special treatment, special consideration. We somehow think we deserve to be treated in certain ways and when we are not we cry out- NO FAIR! NO FAIR! 

We've been taught from our youth to indulge our selfishness. Maybe not in a deliberate way, but by society itself. 

Satan wants us self centered, self motivated, self indulgent, self absorbed, self obsessed, you get the picture.  As long as our minds are upon ourselves we are lost.

Christ came to save us, from the worst sinner to the least of sinners. Christ didn't come to find the most well behaved, Christ came to bring hope to the worst behaved.  Christ wanted all to have HOPE and that HOPE is found in HIM.

By His grace may WE find our hope in HIM. May we look to Him and only Him and not to ourselves. Please Lord, take our selfishness from us, teach us to be more like you.

All by YOUR LOVE, all by YOUR GRACE!

Who then can be saved?

Entering the kingdom of heaven. How many people would buy their way into heaven if they could? We've all watched, read, heard about the very rich using their riches to gain access to things those without riches could never have access to.  We've seen some of their grand palaces, we've heard tell about stores that are closed to all but that rich person, we've heard about rich people having a restaurant closed to all but their personal dining party. These things we've heard and seen in fictional movies portrayed are great shows of wealth. Many a movie has a plot where the rich use their money to buy things that are outrageous to most. Many a movie has created an envy in people to be rich so they too can enjoy such a lavish, powerful life. So when I ask, 'How many people would buy their way into heaven if they could?' The answer very truthfully would be if heaven were accessible by wealth many would give their life savings to buy their way in and most assuredly the rich and very rich would reserve their place in heaven.   Heaven is absolutely beyond any doubt inaccessible by riches. Not a single person will ever be able to buy their way into heaven. From the wealthiest person to the poorest, not a million dollars nor a single cent will buy entrance into the kingdom of heaven.  It's a sad truth that riches corrupt and many a rich person will try to buy favors from men of God, hoping those men of God will use their influence to help them into the kingdom. If a single man of God accepts any money in such a way you can be assured of one thing, that man of God is NOT a true man of God.

Riches will NOT buy entrance to the kingdom of heaven.

And Jesus said the following--

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus' words.  So why would anyone ever want to be rich?! 

Why? If you're almost guaranteed NOT to gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven if you are rich, why would you seek riches? Why would you long for riches? Why would you strive to obtain them? Why would you mourn your inability to get them?

We've been conditioned to believe that the things of this earth matter more than anything else. We've been conditioned to believe that our lives are hard and thankless when we have to struggle for every penny. We are taught to long for the life free of worry over money and the things it can do for us.  We are taught to desire so much more than we have living a very simple life.  We are taught to pity those who have never once in their life ever gone on a trip away from their home. We are taught to pity the less fortunate because surely they live their entire lives just wanting to be rich. We are taught to feel awful for those who struggle just to eat, drink, have clothing, and a roof over their heads. Surely they have to want to live a life free of all that horrendous extremely, life threatening poverty.  No, I'm not saying we shouldn't feel pity for them and a desire to help the less fortunate, but in truth those who are poor are closer to the kingdom of heaven than any who have riches. 

Jesus could say that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven because it's TRUTH.  The rich have their focus on earth not on the kingdom of heaven.  Their hearts are with their riches, not in heaven with Christ.

Jesus went on to say the following--

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (an IMPOSSIBILITY) than a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Riches tie us to earth. Riches tie us to self and selfishness.

What did Jesus' disciples think of what Jesus said? --

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

They were AMAZED. Why? Because they understood that desire to be rich, to want riches, to aspire for riches, to envy the rich. All of that was a way of life they were brought up with. To look upon the rich as the favored, as those meant to be envied if not personally then envied simply for their wealth. That desire for wealth to ease life's burdens has been around for a very, very long time it's become a part of us. The disciples understood that and were amazed that Jesus would say that it's an impossibility for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus responded--

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

ONLY God can give us entrance into the kingdom of heaven. 
Nothing we do, nothing we imagine we can do, no amount of money can buy us entrance into the kingdom of God.

Not that million dollars, not that single penny will give us that access. Riches from the greatest to the least will not give us heaven. Only God can give us heaven, only GOD and God alone! With God all things are possible, with men of their own accord nothing is possible when it comes to the kingdom of heaven.

We must be solely dependent upon God, upon our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior!

So while we long for riches in what seems to be a natural way in our sinful flesh, we have to comprehend no amount of money in the entire world will give us the greatest treasure in existence- the Kingdom of God. 

Everything, absolutely everything in our lives except Christ and His love, the love He gives us to give others, is temporary to eternity.  The clothes we wear, the houses we live in, the treasure we reap upon earth all of them are only temporary and quite meaningless when it comes to eternity. 

We will have to answer for our stewardship of the money we do get. Do we want to spend our money on ourselves or on the things of Christ? It's so hard for us who live in such a materialistic existence, where our ease and pleasure is so important to us, to imagine not living as we do. Please LORD, help us to live for you and the things You would have us live for. Please LORD, we know that none of our riches mean a single thing unless we can use them for You, the greatest riches or the least riches, must be YOURS. Teach us to do with our money as YOU will, not as we will. Create a clean heart within us, by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, please Lord let us be YOURS in all things! Help us! Satan would keep us as His, free us from HIM, make us YOURS, please LORD we believe, help our unbelief. Please Lord we will, help us keep our minds upon YOU always in all things! Please Lord, You and You alone can do what is impossible for us to do, we need You to do the impossible in us! Heal us! Help us be YOURS!

By YOUR GRACE LORD, by YOUR LOVE, YOUR MERCY, YOUR FORGIVENESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS! IN YOU LORD, ALL IN YOU!  All GLORY PRAISE AND HONOR UNTO YOU!

Suffer the children and forbid them not to come unto me

Mat 19:14  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.



Again, little children are mentioned in connection with the kingdom of heaven.



Remember the previous time?



Mat_18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.



When something is converted, is it changed?



If I convert a dog house into a storage unit, I'm changing it, right? If I convert a small closet into a large one, I'm changing it, yes? If I convert from one religion to another, I'm changing my religion. Converting means changing.



'To change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product; transform: convert water into ice.'



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Jesus said- except we be converted (changed)- except we be changed and that change makes us as little children, we will NOT enter into the kingdom of heaven.



Jesus also said- suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for such is the kingdom of heaven.



The kingdom of heaven is to be filled with little children and WE must be those little children- converted into the children that will fill the kingdom of heaven. Those who desire to be with Christ. Those who need to be with Christ. Those who would go to Christ eagerly. A child seeking the affection, the security, the comfort, the teaching from a trusted, faithful Christ.  Crawling up onto the lap of Christ, feeling the love of his arms encircling you, giving you the security you need, knowing He will never let you fall. Trusting in Christ to teach you all you need to know. Being loved unconditionally. Giving love to the One who is there to protect you eternally.



Christ Jesus our Savior wants us to be converted, changed to love Him, to trust Him, to depend upon Him as a child would. We are His children.  We are the children of God and we have to fully comprehend this. We are not gods, which too many people believe they are in their own right.  Our Savior wants us to remember we are CHILDREN, forever, HIS CHILDREN, Children of the Kingdom.



I want to be a child of the King.  I want to be converted and become as a little child again for the Kingdom of Heaven. Please Lord, You and You alone can make this possible. You and You alone can make this conversion possible. Please Lord.



In His LOVE, His amazing LOVE.

For the kingdom of heaven's sake

For the kingdom of heaven's sake.

When we say we do something for someone's sake, we are doing it for them. When we say we are doing something for a purpose was say for the sake of that purpose we are doing it. For the sake of the kingdom of heaven, we might do the following, read till the end.

Mat 19:3  The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Mat 19:4  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mat 19:7  They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Mat 19:8  He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mat 19:9  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Mat 19:10  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Mat 19:11  But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

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Marriage isn't easy we all know that. Two people being in agreement isn't easy. Two people being as one- not easy, not like it was meant to be. Because of sin we are at odds with each other more often than not. It's not surprise that men and women want to divorce each other. It isn't easy, it takes hard work and dedication to remain married especially today when divorce is so easy to obtain. 

Marriage is also an analogy for Christ and His people- the church.  When God's people went astray they were adulterers.  Betraying God for which there is no, absolutely no excuse. We can't and shouldn't even want to divorce ourselves from God. He is everything!  Is it any wonder that God doesn't want us to as married couples to divorce? The symbolism is there.

Moses allowed for divorce, why? Because of the hardness of the peoples hearts. For our weakness it was allowed.  Jesus said- if a man puts away his wife (except for adultery) then he is sinning, breaking one of the ten moral laws.  After saying this, the disciples said- if this is how it is, it's better not to marry.

Did Jesus dispute that? Yes.

He said-  ALL men CANNOT receive this. All men could NOT remain unmarried.

Jesus explained further- Some men would remain unmarried because they would be physically unable to be married- to consummate marriage. Some men would become unable to consummate marriage because they'd be physically incapacitated by other men making them so.  Also, there would be those who would incapacitate themselves and they would do that for the kingdom of heaven's sake.  Not all would or could do it.

We also know this--

1Co 7:4  The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1Co 7:5  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
1Co 7:6  But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
1Co 7:7  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

It IS better not to marry- but EVERY man has his proper gift of God, not every man is to be unmarried.

We have a whole religion - the Catholic religion that makes it mandatory for their priests to remain unmarried- something that is NOT Biblically sanctioned but a man made decree. Paul, himself, said not all would remain unmarried. Peter was married.

Mat 8:14  And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.
Mat 8:15  And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Yet, for some reason the Catholic church has decided that to serve God you must remain unmarried. Not even Christ said that, yet they want it to be so.

Christ said- some would do this for the kingdom of heaven's sake. Some would refrain from marriage. Some would deny themselves marriage and ALL that entails so they could keep on their path to the kingdom of heaven.

Is it harder to be married and enter the kingdom of heaven?

Yes.

Because a man has to take his wife into consideration in things and a wife can lead a man astray, and vice versa.

Solomon the wisest man was led astray by his wives, wives that were not God's but worshipped false gods and idols.

The power of being led astray is something we (who are far from being wise on the same scale as Solomon) cannot deny. We might want to deny it but we can't.

Being married is a huge undertaking and only by the grace of God may we be married remain HIS and find in Him the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you're not married and you're reading this and you are honestly thinking about remaining unmarried because you realize that it is God's will for you, then may God bless you in this decision. May God help you and give you the strength you need.

May God help all of us.

Those of us who are married have to understand that being married isn't right for everyone and if we can encourage those who are called to remain unmarried, then that's what we should do, all by the grace of God.

The kingdom of heaven, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven we put self last in all things.

The kingdom of heaven -our Lord Jesus Christ!

IN HIM, through HIS LOVE!

Forgiveness- the kingdom of heaven

Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

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We must forgive.
And we must forgive from our hearts.

We live in a world full of payback.  We demand payback from others and often with interest attached. We prey upon the weak, the less fortunate and we do so while happily counting our fortunes, or...maybe not.  Maybe we simply get slighted by someone and feel the desire- the instant desire- to slight back.  Do we forgive much?  Do we forgive little things, just let them go and no longer hold them over the head of the offender?

The offenders- those who hurt us.

Have you forgiven everyone, every slight?  Or do you pass by someone who has hurt you and still feel the pang of injury they caused you?  Do you hear the mere mention of the name of someone who hurt you, and cringe inwardly? 

How are people to forgive great offenders?

How are people to let go of the trauma an offense brings with it?

When an offense has forever altered our lives, day in and day out the reminders are all around us, how then do we forgive?

Is forgiveness forgetting?

We can't deliberately erase our memories, we don't have that capability. The best we can do is as we remember we forgive again and again, and again. Forgiveness is a living entity all its own that must be fed. Sometimes the creature of forgiveness only needs a tiny bit of feeding to survive, that forgiveness is so complete. Other times, that forgiveness needs to be feed several times in one day because of our inability to lay the offense to rest in our minds. Time often has a way of lessening the hunger but even then there might be days when the forgiveness needs to feed more than others. Sometimes we think we've completely put to rest a certain creature of forgiveness and then we are surprised when it rears up roaring to be fed all over again.  We must feed forgiveness and the feeding IS actively forgiving over and over and over.

How often do we forgive?

We forgive endlessly. Yes, endlessly.

Why?

Because we need endless forgiveness from our God.

The kingdom of heaven is like a forgiving king.

If we are not forgiving, we will not be forgiving.

If we are not forgiving we will not be in the kingdom of heaven where forgiveness is paramount. 

Forgiveness- the kingdom of heaven.

Please Lord, we would be in the Kingdom with You, we would be YOURS, we would be forgiven, we would forgive.

Help us to forgive over and over again, forever forgiving, forgiving without end.

By Your LOVE!

As this little child

The greatest- the least.

This is a concept we don't quite fully comprehend, do we?  It's contradictory. The greatest cannot be the least it's an impossibility. 

Mat 23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Again, the greatest, a servant?!

Somewhere we all got this twisted up and backwards didn't we?

Those who are great have servants.
Those who are great are far from the least.

Those two things are what we believe to be true, but they're not true according to our Savior Jesus Christ.  The greatest among people here on earth were to be the least, to be servants.

The greatest in the kingdom of heaven...

Mat 18:1  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 18:2  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

These verses bear a bit of discussion…

First, Jesus says EXCEPT you are converted, EXCEPT you become as little children, you SHALL NOT enter the kingdom.

Do you see, the Disciples asked a question, they asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus didn't just tell them the answer. He first told them there was a possibility they wouldn't even enter the kingdom.  Just imagine hearing that as you're waiting for a reply to your question. 

Except you are converted from your adulthood and become as a little child, you're NOT getting into Heaven.

Converted to a child.

We spend all our childhood being told to grow up, and then here you are grown up and you're being told to be like a child.  What defines being a child?  Jesus went on to say- 'Whosever therefore shall humble himself as this little child- the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.' 

Does humbleness define a child?  Nowadays you'd be hard pressed to say that it does, wouldn't you? A lot of children are defiant and victims of their upbringings, society, and the times we live in.  Still, a lot of children keep their innocent inquiries, don't they? They keep a certain innocence about them till they're around seven or eight.

We don't know how old the child was that Jesus held, but the child was old enough to listen to Jesus and come to Him when he was called. 

Humble like a child.  What makes a child humble? Their innocence, their eagerness to learn because there is so much they don't know? Their ability to love just because you are there for them to love you? Their total dependability on you for all their needs?

Our Savior wants us to totally depend upon Him for all our needs, He wants to be looked to for everything. We need to recognize our need of total dependence upon Christ, and no dependence upon ourselves. In a world that stresses independence Christ stresses dependence. We will NEVER be too old to depend totally upon Christ, never! Like a child, because we ARE CHILDREN of the KING.  We are CHILDREN! CHILDREN!  And even while we are to move from milk to solid food, even young children have that experience- weaning doesn't mean grown up, weaning means going from infancy, from toddling, to being a child, then from child to preteen, then teenager and then adult. There is a progression of aging and we are forever children with our Heavenly Father, forever our Father.  We will truly only enter the Kingdom of Heaven by being like that little child sitting upon Jesus' lap.  That total dependence upon another to supply everything for us- food, clothing, a home, love. Someone to teach us all we need to know about life. And Christ will teach us all we need to know about eternal life.

Please, LORD, we would be Your children! We would enter the kingdom of heaven to be with You for eternity!  Please, LORD, teach us all we need to know, we trust that you and you alone will be our way to the Kingdom! Through YOUR LOVE, YOUR MERCY, YOUR FORGIVENESS! All through YOU!