A Life Today

It really does not matter how, when, where, or what day the church is to meet.  It does not matter if it’s in a building, a house, a school, a cafe, a boat, or in a park.  I find it interesting that while Jesus was on earth he did not spend his time teaching about the proper way to do church.  What he did do was invest his time in teaching about the kingdom and how to live in His kingdom.  I’d like to zero in on one particular conversation Jesus shared with his disciples.

Jesus and the disciples were traveling through Galilee and came to a house in Capernaum.  While he was there in the house he began to question the disciples about what they were talking about on the way.  There was silence.  Not one of them wanted to speak up for they were discussing with one another which one of them were going to be greatest in the kingdom.  I would have liked to hear the conversation these disciples had, but maybe it sounded a lot like us.

Jesus sat down and called the disciples together.  He told them that if they wanted to be first then they would have to be last and become servant of all.  He then took a child up into his arms and said, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”  Think of that for a moment.  A child cannot help you climb the corporate ladder.  A child probably won’t tell you what a great artist you are.  He won’t say what a wonderful sermon you had.  He probably isn’t going to buy your latest book or audio series.  He doesn’t even have any money to give you.  But with this child you can be yourself.  You can laugh, wrestle, tickle, tell stories to him… just to enjoy the child.  You may even have to get him a drink, make him dinner, help him wash his hands, tend that cut on his leg… and you’ll get nothing in return.  Well that’s not completely true.  Jesus said when you receive him then you are receiving the Lord Himself and not only that but you are receiving the Father Himself.

I don’t think this was a call to you and I to become involved in children’s ministry.  I think what Jesus was saying though is when we live in the kingdom we need to serve people and love people as we would a child.  We aren’t to look to people to build our ministry, dreams, or careers.  But we are to see how we can help make that individuals life better.  Jesus we are told that although He was rich He became poor.  Why did he do this?  So that through His poverty many would become rich.  That is the attitude we should have. 

This attitude goes against what we desire and what we are taught through life.  Don’t we tend to gather around people that will make us look better?  I confess that I’m guilty of this.  How quick I have been to call folks up who can help me in some way.  Yet do I call those who can do nothing for me?  How about name throwing?  If you are like me you will tend to bring up in conversations those people who are successful that we know.  We like people to know we know those people.  Think back to that child Jesus picked up.  You can’t do any name throwing with a child.  Children don’t care if you just had dinner with the richest man in town. 

That should change how we look at and serve one another.  We shouldn’t be seeking to build our empires or reputation.  We shouldn’t be on the outlook for those who can help us achieve our dreams.  We should be on the look out for that simple person the Lord brings our way.  For when we do, we have just sat down with the Lord Himself.