“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

Matthew 18:1-5

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

Everyone wants to be great, but what does greatness really mean? We have seen a staggering shift in self-perception over the last few decades. In the 1950s, only 12% of high school seniors considered themselves "important"; by the late 1980s, that number skyrocketed to 80%. We have traded the "quiet professional" and the "culture of humility" for a world filled with victory dances, self-promotion, and “cosmic plagiarism”—taking credit for gifts and skills that we didn't actually create ourselves.

In Matthew 18:1-5, Jesus defines what it means to be the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time). The disciples approached Him with a question born from a scarcity mentality: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” They were jockeying for position, assuming that greatness was a ladder to be climbed. Jesus didn’t rebuke their desire to matter—after all, we all want our lives to make a difference—but He fundamentally redirected their ambition.

Instead of pointing to a war hero or a scholar, Jesus called a child to stand among them. He said that unless they turned and became like children, they wouldn’t even enter the kingdom, let alone lead it. In that culture, children had no status or power; they were considered to be on the same level as property. Jesus declared, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

True greatness is found in humility. There is a story about a famous pastor who passed away. This man was world-renowned and served as a pastor to politicians and celebrities. During a small family funeral, no one mentioned his accolades; instead, they spoke of how great a father and grandfather he was. Jesus used only two words to describe Himself: "gentle and lowly," or, in other words, humble.

As Thomas Merton warned, if we become too obsessed with being a "success" in the eyes of the world, we will forget how to truly live. Jesus offers us another way to live into greatness—not through accomplishments, but through humility.

Prayer:

Jesus, remind us to live our lives for your glory and not ours, help us to live like the children you see us as. Let our striving for greatness be for you. Amen.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

Where are you currently "jockeying for position" in your life? How might "becoming like a child" today change the way you treat those around you?
David Brooks describes a shift from a culture of humility to one of self-promotion. In your daily life—whether at work, in your family, or on social media—how often do you feel the pressure to perform a "victory dance" for routine tasks versus being content as a "quiet professional"?
Thomas Merton warned that being too obsessed with worldly success can cause us to "forget to live". What do you think he meant by this?

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