Humility...the forgotten virtue

My associate, Mark Johnson, shared a compelling message about the characteristics of a disciple that emerge from Matthew 18 following the disciples misplaced quesiton, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Jesus ignores their question and  makes this telling statement, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven".

Undoubtedly, the disciples are embarassed that Jesus even knows they were having this discussion (Mark and Luke suggest this), but Jesus skillfully and perceptively directs their attention to the real issue--entrance into the kingdom and what are the expectations of its subjects.  He talks about change--"unless you are converted and become like children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven".  And what is it about children to which he draws attention?  "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven". 

And there's the answer to the quesiton that began the conversation.  I'll bet it isn't the answer they expected.

Humility.  The humbleness of a child.  In Jesus' day children had no rights, no privileges, no real value except in their potential as heirs.  This is what Jesus identified as the virtue for particiupation in  His kingdom.  Humility in recognizing who we are without Him and what we can become with Him.

In thinking about our life as citizens in the kingdom of God, we would probably acknoweldge this virtue is the one we  lack most.  By nature, we are prone to self-sufficiency; it is the nature of sinful man.  We find ourselves clamoring for our rights, insisting on special privileges, and foolishly presuming that God needs us.  We aspire for the place of honor, the praise of others, the affirmation of our value. 

It is in us.  It is what we are.  It is how we live.

Without God.

Jesus set this principle in focus when He told His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).  The daily recognition of who I am without God promotes within me an appropriate spirit of humility.  Recognizing the grace of God and His love for me in spite of my sinfulness accentuates how humbled I feel as His child. 

And Hischild I want to be.  A citizen of His kingdom.  A humble recipient of His grace.

I'll try not to forget that this is what "greatness" in God's sight is all about. Thanks, Mark.