The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:9:46-50

kjv@Luke:9:46 @ Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

kjv@Luke:9:47 @ And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

kjv@Luke:9:48 @ And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

kjv@Luke:9:49 @ And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

kjv@Luke:9:50 @ And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

Today's notes:

Context:

Before - Luke:9:37-45 The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit
After - Luke:9:51-62 Samaritan Opposition

Study Resources:

dict:tcr NAME, CHRIST

dict:easton Child

Man's patience:

Notes:

The issue is following Christ's lead in His soon absence and we are faced with two of the same or similar considerations: position of one within the circle of known followers (particularly disciples) and position of one without. It is interesting that the topic of another should occur at the same time as it shows that it is the name of Christ that is doing the work not the disciples nor this one man. It also comes on the heals of a child that the disciples were not able to heal because of some connection to a faithless and perverse generation. To counter this trend Jesus gives the example of receiving a child (not to be confused yet with the being child like).

The outreach of discipleship appears to be centered first upon the perception of our receiving, receiving a child, receiving Jesus, receiving HE who sent Him. As others approach the circle of a disciple's influence they are received by us whether 80 years old or 8 months as a child of Christ's. They are received as ones new to and growing in the Spirit, inexperienced and vulnerable even mischievous and failing, yet a child of His none the less. Even within our established ranks peer to peer, even superior to subordinate and subordinate to superior we remain regardless in the mode of receiving a child of Christ's. In the sense that the disciples here are trying to make it there becomes the worldly infiltration of rivalry/competition/qualification/merit/works/determination.

One does not expect a child to behave as an adult and when he/she doesn't there is no surprise. Yet there is the expectation that one will grow by this, that next time one will know better and therefore do better as a result; that each moment success or failure is a teachable moment as modeled to us by Christ Himself. This is true for them that we are reaching out to as a mission, plus it is true for us within the mission one to another. We are all a child of Christ's collected into a body or family of children admittedly with much altitude left to grow, but plenty of room allowed by each other to grow into it.

There are passages where each of us being "as a child" are indicated. Being the least here however is not the same as being most child like, it is one having been given authority operating within that authority with the least of his/her own self exaltations and world likeness. kjv@1Corinthians:14:20 speaks of being not as children but as men when it came to understanding the operation of spiritual gifts. kjv@Ephesians:4:14 speaks of a mature grasp of doctrine and the slight of cunning men. kjv@Luke:16:8 the children of this world being wiser/shrewd than the children of light.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

kjv@1Thessalonians:5:5 @ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

kjv@1Corinthians:2:14 @ But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

kjv@1Corinthians:1:26 @ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

kjv@1Corinthians:1:27 @ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

kjv@1Peter:1:13 @ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

kjv@1Peter:1:14 @ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

kjv@1Peter:1:15 @ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

kjv@1Peter:1:16 @ Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:9:46-50
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:9:46-50 rwp@Luke:9:46-50 mhcc@Luke:9:46-50
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index