As Jesus answers His disciplines, He identifies another mark of being spiritually great, a heart attitude of grace towards men. Perhaps you received some skill at building things, or skilled at executing a play in a sport. Then a new co-worker or teammate joins the team. His efforts prove wasteful or ineffective by your standards, but they are still on the team and still getting the job done. Will we get bound up by this alleged inefficiency or troubled by their process? Where is our heart really at? We can respond with a heart attitude of grace and kindness or we will rip them apart. They are on the team and their efforts will be rewarded. Expressions of grace, unmerited favor and kindness, is a distinguished mark of greatness in the kingdom of God.
Mark 8:3-4 “And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
The spirit of man is so frequently driven by a goal of personal gain. It is advantageous to respond to the needs of an individual when we can also obtain some type of advancement from the pursuit. The disciples were talking about spiritual greatness when our Lord interrupts, “ What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.” Mark 9:33-34.
I am impressed by our Lord’s gentle nature. He does not rebuke His disciples; He just begins to reveal to them how they can be great in the kingdom of God.
“And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36: And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.” Mark 9:35-37.
We see Jesus holding a child. Children are a special blessing. They can be demanding, requiring our time, yet a very effective tool to re-arranging our own self-serving plans. Serving your siblings, and keeping an eye on Johnny will displace time with friends and even cut into that often desired ‘me’ time. We won’t be able to gain or advance our own agendas by ministering to children. That’s real good because The Lords agenda, the big picture is so much better. To our flesh, they may seem to slow us down. Jesus explains that to be great in the Kingdom of God, we are to treat all equally, even those who don’t offer us some type of notable benefit. In our social circles, we may be quick to respond to people who may help us along in our own pursuit. God is no respecter of persons. Treating all as If we were to care for a child. This may offer nothing to advance our own cause, but spiritually we shall acquire great rewards. This heart attitude can break down cliques, emotional barriers, and abandon lonely hearts even among a packed room.
