Today's Reading: Matthew 18: 1-7
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Matthew 18: 1-7
Bible Study
N.T. Wright gives us a new angle to look at these seven verses. He says:
When the disciples asked who was to be the greatest in the heavenly rule that was to come on earth, we are probably right to suspect that it was things like this they had in mind. They knew about the heroes of old. They had lists of them. Along with faith and hope, military courage and success tend to loom large among their qualities. Jesus tosses all that out of the window, and instead calls out a little child:shy, ready to listen, to be loved and to love, to learn and grow. This is what true greatness is like, he says. Go and learn about it.
In particular, go and imitate it. That means, as he says, being turned inside out or back to front. It means learning to look at life, at the world, at God, at yourself, through the other end of the telescope. We all find it difficult to think that weakness and vulnerability are anything other than things to be ashamed of. But humility is what counts in God's kingdom, because pride and arrogance are the things which, more than anything else in God's world, distort and ultimately destroy human lives - their own, and those of people they affect.
So, what are those people who can be in the kingdom of heaven?
1. Like a child to be always humble, ready to listen, to be loved and to love, to learn and grow.
2. Accept those like children who are weak, vulnerable and powerless.
Are you this kind of people?
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: Be Jesus' little child!
What I received from Jesus today is a beautiful picture of a little child sitting beside Jesus smiling to him. And Jesus looks at this child's eyes with love, appreciation and compassion.
This world teaches us to be the opposite of what Jesus is talking about.
1. A grown up with pride of what we have got, not easy to listen, unteachable, not being able to love and to be love.
2. Do not accept those who are weak, vulnerable and powerless but only to accept those who will be useful to us.
What kind of person you really are? Don't lie to yourself!
If you belongs to the worldly group, today is the time for you to have a U-turn!
1. A grown up with pride of what we have got, not easy to listen, unteachable, not being able to love and to be love.
2. Do not accept those who are weak, vulnerable and powerless but only to accept those who will be useful to us.
What kind of person you really are? Don't lie to yourself!
If you belongs to the worldly group, today is the time for you to have a U-turn!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to enjoy being a little child always hanging around with you and that we can accept those powerless people. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Please click this link to worship with us - Above All
Chinese praise song - 全地至高是我主 You Are Top No. 1
You can subscribe to my podcast feed here:http://feeds.feedburner.com/discipler123
You may choose to follow my first blog which I started in July 2009:http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/