DCLM Daily Manna 27 May 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Humility Is Key
TOPIC: Humility Is Key
TEXT: Matthew 18:1-14
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 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.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
KEY VERSE: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – (Matthew 18:4)
MESSAGE:
According to A.W. Tozer, “In every Christian heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross he remains on the throne … We want to be saved but we insist that Christ do all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying. We remain king within the little kingdom of man and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility.” Dying daily on the cross is the way to greatness in God’s Kingdom.
Jesus, in the previous chapter, had been to the Mount of Transfiguration with three of His disciples. He had healed the epileptic boy and had instructed Peter to cast a hook and get money from the fish’s mouth to pay the temple tax. The disciples were preoccupied with the organisational structure of Christ’s earthly kingdom, hence the question; “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The Lord ignored their question and made a practical illustration of humility of heart and life as a virtue that paves the way for greatness in God’s kingdom. He noted that there must be genuine conversion to childlikeness characterised by sincerity of heart.
As believers, we must make it a priority to pray for the dethronement of self and be clothed with humility. These will enable us keep our eternal perspective. Humility will also help in our spiritual progress and heavenward journey. We must in all humility depend on the Holy Spirit to seek and save the lost. Remember that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Therefore, as God’s children, we must be clothed in transparent humility.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Humility is the badge of every true Christian.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
I Samuel 14
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
