Matthew 18:1-6

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Matthew 19:13-15

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Questions for Reflection:

What joy and comfort do you find in knowing you are to be like a newborn infant in the Kingdom of God? Or does this idea feel scary and unknown and strange to you?

How has someone caused you to stumble in your walk with the Lord and how you can you bring that to Jesus for healing?

Prayer of the Week:

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You to receive Your love and Your life and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.

Father, you love me with an incomprehensible love but I ask now that You give eyes of faith to see the magnitude of Your love for me. I pray that I might know the length and width and height and depth of Your love for me. I want to know Your love and I want to know You. Thank you for loving me so well through Jesus. His sacrificial unconditional love for me blows me away. Thank you for putting Your love into action through Jesus. I receive Him and all His life and all His work which You made sure was done for me and every other human being. What love! What grace!

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I confess that I can so easily despise Your love through my thoughts, words and deeds. One way I do this is when I compare myself to others in such a way that results in envy, jealousy and resentment towards them and You. I realize that at times I am prone to thinking that You are less gracious, more stingy and less giving with me than others. I can even do this when I look at what my life lacks and conclude my sin or failures must have turned You off somehow ……… oh I am so sorry for all the ways I limit my perception of Your grace, love and goodness to me. I do not want to envious of others and resentful of You.

I receive and trust Your complete and total forgiveness and ask Your help with living free today. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit so I am free to see and enjoy Your many graces, many blessings, many gifts in my life. I get to enjoy You Jesus and what You have given me …. which is so very much. I do not have to be lured into the trap of looking at what others have and what I don’t have which takes my soul into lifeless places. I am in Your care and I rejoice that I get to enjoy You Jesus today … all day, every day. Thank You for You!

Amen