UNDERSTANDING KINGDOM PRINCIPLES*

TEXT: MATTHEW 18:1-14

KEY VERSE:
"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).

The gulf between the carnal man and the converted soul is wide. A diligent pursuit of eternal Kingdom principles is superior to an unprofitable push for temporal worldly standards. Jesus reveals the difference between those who feed on His Word and those who rest on secular doctrines that contemn servanthood and humility.

When His disciples approached Him to know what constituted greatness and who was qualified to be the greatest in the Kingdom, He rested the question by saying the answer lay in humble service. In His Kingdom, one must have the submissive spirit of a child to be considered worthy of leadership. He re-echoed Proverbs 15:33 that, "Before honour is humility". Only a converted soul can enjoy this virtue. It is not acquired by an outward work of the flesh. It comes after genuine penitence and pardon for sin, followed by grace to serve selflessly without murmuring in the face of offences, trials, temptations and persecutions.

Serious threats to one’s attachment to Christ like family links, social status, jobs, etc, must not make one compromise the stand on holiness. However, punishment awaits those who exploit and hurt Christians because of their humility and dedication to Kingdom instructions. Such is God’s love for His sheep that He will not allow His children to perish in the world as long as they stay in His fold. The Lord also makes a pronouncement on those who honour His servants. Conversely, those who reject His disciples reject the Lord and His Kingdom.

Thought for the Day: Unconditional service is the condition for leadership in God’s kingdom.

Bible Reading in one Year: ISAIAH 37-39; PSALM 76