Wednesday April 20, 2022

Today is Wednesday, April 20 and we are exploring what the bible says about new birth in Christ.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe deeply and slowly, and center myself upon the presence of God.

Pause and Pray

Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my heart and mind as I search the holy scriptures. God, teach me how to listen for your voice and help me understand what you are saying in my life. I am listening. Speak to me in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

I join faithful people across the centuries and praise the Lord God with the words of Psalm 98.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. Psalm 98:1-2

Pause and Pray

Twice in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus predicts his suffering and death. He explains to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and endure many things; he will be betrayed into the hands of men, executed, entombed and raised to life after three days (Matthew 16:21-23,17:22-23). Through this, Jesus will come into his kingdom, but the disciples do not understand what kind of kingdom this will be. The twelve are overly concerned with their status and position in the coming kingdom and overlook the section where he tells them to take up their cross and follow him. They wonder who will sit at his left hand and who will sit at his right hand in glory. Their concern over their place in the future hierarchy causes them to ask Jesus the following question.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:1-5

Jesus turns the world’s standards upside down. The greatest one is the most humble. The one with the lowest position attains greatness. As a disciple, I am called to change and become like a little child. A child in the ancient world was without status or rights, completely dependent on the oversight and care of adults. When I become like a child, I give up claims to power, positions of status and recognize my utter and complete dependence on God. According to Jesus, not only will I not be “great” in the kingdom of heaven, in fact I will never even enter the kingdom of heaven unless I become like a child and adopt the faith of a child. When I become like a child before God, I give up the need to control things, the compulsion to figure it all out by myself and unravel vast theological possibilities. I simply believe.

Ask: When do I exhibit child-like faith? How does changing and becoming like a child connect to new birth in Christ?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, you gave the world the example of a humble servant, giving yourself completely for the good of others and demonstrating pure love. Show me the path to humility. Remove my pride and enable me to change and become like a little child. I put my faith and trust in you alone. I long to be worthy to enter the kingdom of heaven and find your welcome there. I read your words in Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:1-5

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I recall times in my life when I wanted to excel in an organization, go to the top of the class, climb the corporate ladder, or achieve worldly fame. What is Jesus revealing to me about true greatness? I consider which words resonate with the current state of my soul. Greatest or lowest. Pride or humility. Never enter or always welcome. Perhaps God wants to inform my current ambitions, circumstances or relationships. What position do I hold and what position do I desire? What position does God have for me?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, I invite you into the deepest desires of my heart. Reveal places of pride, presumption and selfish ambition. Grant me a childlike faith, transform my motivations, purify my intentions, reverse my errant thinking and prepare me for life in your kingdom. Amen.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8

I leave this time of prayer adopting the innocent faith of a child, seeking opportunities to serve others in humility and love.

Amen