Matthew 18:1-6 Like a Child
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: May 12, 2019 Matthew 18:1-6
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
(Understanding the Text) It sounds like the disciples and Jesus were still in Capernaum staying in Peter’s house. They are still focused on who is greatest and not. They are worried about their position in the kingdom and who would be higher than them. It says disciples plural, so they must have been discussing this issue among themselves and been confused or had a dispute. Maybe, this was selfishness, or maybe this was because they had heard Jesus speak of the kingdom of heaven so much that they knew it was important, but they just couldn’t quite figure it out in comparison to the “real world” that they were living in. Maybe, they came to Jesus in honest confusion.
(Revelation of God) Guzik’s commentary points out that the true answer of who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven is Jesus Himself. “i. We know that one Man was actually the greatest in the kingdom: Jesus Christ. This means that Jesus Himself was humble like a little child. He wasn’t concerned about his own status. He didn’t have to be the center of attention. He could not deceive, and He didn’t have an intimidating presence.” However, Jesus does not say that He Himself was the greatest. Instead, speaking of the child reveals Jesus’ own nature. He is childlike in His total trust and love for His Father. He has no ego that pushes Himself to the front. Instead, He looks to the Father as first and depends on Him to take care of Jesus. By becoming a limited human, Jesus demonstrated this trust and dependence on the Father.
(Understanding the Text) In several places, Jesus tells us that we need to be like children. Here He says that it is a requirement for entrance into heaven. I think the greatest childlike issue is trust and willingness to depend on someone “bigger” to take care of us. Adults have built so many defenses to protect themselves that they cannot trust. We have to learn to trust again. We have learned that the only person you can depend on is yourself. We have to learn to depend on God. We pride ourselves in our cynicism and sarcasm, not realizing that all this proves is that we are hurt and broken and trying to defend ourselves. Instead, we need to be fresh and trusting and enthusiastic. Guzik’s commentary had some interesting insights about being like a child. “i. Children are not threatening; we aren’t afraid of meeting a five-year old in a dark alley. When we have a tough, intimidating presence, we aren’t like Jesus. ii. Children are not good at deceiving; they are pretty miserable failures at fooling their parents. When we are good at hiding ourselves and deceiving others, we aren’t like Jesus. iii. Jesus knew that we must be converted to be like little children. It isn’t in our nature to take the low place and to humble ourselves.”
Then Jesus talks of receiving a child in His name. I think this means teaching children about Jesus. He contrasts that with leading a child who believes in Jesus to sin. Guzik says “Since the nature of Jesus is like one of these little children, how we treat children shows how we regard the nature of Jesus.”
Here Jesus says it would have been better for you to be murdered by someone else in the sea than to cause a child to sin. The question I have is why this particular kind of death? It’s only the first death and forgiveness is possible, so what is Jesus doing with this saying? I understand that Jesus is saying that it is horrible to cause a believing child to sin, but what I don’t understand is why this particular imagery.
I found three basic lessons from this passage. Adults need to become like children in attitude trusting and depending on Jesus. Adults need to lead children to Jesus and be careful not to do anything to separate a child from his/her trust in God. Jesus highly condemns anyone who pushes a child away from God.
(Application) I need to keep pushing myself to trust God and stop trying to take charge all the time. I need to stop being cynical and open myself up to seeing the world with wonder. I need to treat the development of children in Christ as high priority.
(Prayer) I am naturally cynical and self-protective. Teach me to trust You and to look upon life with wonder. Help me to show children who You are. It is difficult for me to teach the simple lessons that children need without being simplistic so that I mold them into thinking shallowly about You. Help me to strike that balance so that they will be led to see You more and more clearly as they mature.