WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO LOOSE TO GAIN?
Greetings in the name of Jesus:
The illustrations of the millstone, cutting off a limb or plucking and eye out and the straying sheep all are found in Jesus reply to the disciples when they asked who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:1-14 should really be called the passage of the child because of the child-like behavior from the disciples. We find it is necessary for Jesus to deal with humility. In the drive for ambition we find that many times even though it is a great thing it can turn on us and be used as something to trample on others in order to reach goals. The wrong kind of ambition can lead to men not only doing wrong things, but to them dragging others down with them. Ambition turns easily into rudeness, and that should be cut off...and the coveting of an ambitious eye should be plucked out, the root of ambitious willfulness should be cut to the quick.
This kind of attitude does not go well with teaching either since it leads to fleshly desires and ambitions. Unless we are simple and emptied of pride we cannot be used by God's Spirit to bear much fruit. We need to approach God's word and His work as little children which is seen as a type of greatness in Christ. It just is not easy to come to Christ and remain in Him with the attitude of a small child, but the value of the attitude of a small child is that the Father , the Son and the angels are all associated with it. Angels always behold the face of the Father and have constant access to the Father on behalf of children of whom they are guardians. We know how Jesus felt about children is called the good Shepard is always seeking after the young and lost sheep.
The Father is not willing that anyone perish, but that all would come to a saving knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. I feel that we have a lot to learn still about what it takes to be first in the eyes of God when it comes to the Kingdom. I have a general idea that some of the greatest people in the Kingdom are the ones found in a small room with an open bible and their hands clasped in prayer for this world...for you and for me. Those are prayer warriors who come to the throne of God as little children having faith in their Father who has promised to give all good things. Like the disciples we have gotten to the point of squabbling over who we think should be first in the Kingdom of Heaven according to our own standards instead of using the standards that God has already set down for us.
There are none of our man made standards that are good enough or even correct in the sight of God and we too must be humbled in His sight before we continue to build up that Kingdom. My heart goes out to all of those who think they are doing God's will, but who have to somehow be in charge of anything they are involved in, and every ministry has to some how have their name on it or stamp of approval on it before it can go forward in the church. There is much that we have to loose within ourselves before we can hope to gain a life in Christ, and I pray that we will begin to see that and hear that in the weeks and months to come. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
The illustrations of the millstone, cutting off a limb or plucking and eye out and the straying sheep all are found in Jesus reply to the disciples when they asked who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:1-14 should really be called the passage of the child because of the child-like behavior from the disciples. We find it is necessary for Jesus to deal with humility. In the drive for ambition we find that many times even though it is a great thing it can turn on us and be used as something to trample on others in order to reach goals. The wrong kind of ambition can lead to men not only doing wrong things, but to them dragging others down with them. Ambition turns easily into rudeness, and that should be cut off...and the coveting of an ambitious eye should be plucked out, the root of ambitious willfulness should be cut to the quick.
This kind of attitude does not go well with teaching either since it leads to fleshly desires and ambitions. Unless we are simple and emptied of pride we cannot be used by God's Spirit to bear much fruit. We need to approach God's word and His work as little children which is seen as a type of greatness in Christ. It just is not easy to come to Christ and remain in Him with the attitude of a small child, but the value of the attitude of a small child is that the Father , the Son and the angels are all associated with it. Angels always behold the face of the Father and have constant access to the Father on behalf of children of whom they are guardians. We know how Jesus felt about children is called the good Shepard is always seeking after the young and lost sheep.
The Father is not willing that anyone perish, but that all would come to a saving knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. I feel that we have a lot to learn still about what it takes to be first in the eyes of God when it comes to the Kingdom. I have a general idea that some of the greatest people in the Kingdom are the ones found in a small room with an open bible and their hands clasped in prayer for this world...for you and for me. Those are prayer warriors who come to the throne of God as little children having faith in their Father who has promised to give all good things. Like the disciples we have gotten to the point of squabbling over who we think should be first in the Kingdom of Heaven according to our own standards instead of using the standards that God has already set down for us.
There are none of our man made standards that are good enough or even correct in the sight of God and we too must be humbled in His sight before we continue to build up that Kingdom. My heart goes out to all of those who think they are doing God's will, but who have to somehow be in charge of anything they are involved in, and every ministry has to some how have their name on it or stamp of approval on it before it can go forward in the church. There is much that we have to loose within ourselves before we can hope to gain a life in Christ, and I pray that we will begin to see that and hear that in the weeks and months to come. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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