Matthew 18:1-6
The Greatest – The “GOAT”!!! Who would you expect to see?
A child? That’s right … A CHILD!!! Kinda takes all the pompous, self-exalting, arrogant, prideful inclinations out of you if you care at all about your place in the “Kingdom” that really matters… The Kingdom of Heaven! “Whoever humbles himself/herself like this child IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN!” Who sez so? The One who really is The “Greatest of All Time”
Isaiah 54… Oh, what a wonderful chapter in the Bible; written to a nation and people who demonstrated by their wayward, rebellious behavior they were unworthy of God’s mercy and grace! It speaks a wonderful message, not only to God’s Covenant People in the Old Testament, but to the “People of God” – redeemed gentiles under the New Covenant!
I can’t force you to read it, but strongly encourage that you do so! To help today, I’ve posted below what I underlined as especially significant in my Bible this morning…
“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called… ‘For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,’ says the Lord, your Redeemer…
“’For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you… ‘All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me! No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord!’” (From Isaiah 54 ESV)
Here’s the brief comment I put in the margin of my Bible this morning after reading it: “Oh the mercy, grace, and favor of the Lord on undeserving people! I am incredibly grateful!”
Let me encourage you to read Matthew 17:14-21 in your Bible today… DO IT – it teaches a powerful truth!
Jesus comes down from the mountain where He was “transfigured” before three of his key disciples – Peter, James and John. They had experienced an incredible glorious display of His power and deity!
When they arrived at the bottom of the mountain, Jesus found a disappointed father, a demon haunted and harassed son, and some frustrated disciples!
“I brought my son to your disciples and they could not cure him!” the distressed father blurted out.
The question of the disciples? … “Why could we not cast the demon out?”
Jesus’ response? “Bring the boy here to me!” – You couldn’t “Because of your little faith! For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed [developed in prayer and based upon the promises and power of the One they had encountered on the mountain], you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move, and NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU!”
The lesson, it seems to me… It doesn’t take HUGE faith to experience the Lord’s incredible power and experience miraculous things… It takes “mustard seed faith” – with “the life of the Lord” in it, trusting His power and promises! Oh Lord, develop that kind of faith in me!
Coffee With The Lord 