November 7, 2017 – Matthew 18:5-6

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:5-6.

Does Jesus love little children?  Indeed, He does.  Matthew 18 contains wisdom on how we choose to live, no matter how old we are.  Humility, not pride, is our goal.  Pride covers up sin, but humility before God and man is the wise.  A 3 year old child came into the room, and seeing her Grandpa, nothing else mattered, but being in his arms.  She ran to him, arms wide open, he smiled and scooped her up in a big hug.

This child knew her Grandfather, and knew he loved her.  This is the way God loves us, with all His Heart.  We know we can trust Him.  When we walk in this world, and it beckons us to follow our sinful nature. Do we search for the One, whose arms hold us tightly? The One we can trust without question. The One who protects us and gives us strength in our weakness.

The verses underline this truth just before this just before Verses 5 and 6. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:3-4.

Humility is the first step to trusting God.  Love is the second step and living a life of love.  Someone once told me, others are always watching you and wanting to do what you are doing. When we give in to temptation, we lead those who watch, into sin as well.  We choose joy or sorrow, by how we respond to the temptations in this world. Choose JOY!

“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. Matthew 18:7.