From the desk of Pastor Ben

The Humility of Conversion – Part 3

“Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”         (Matthew 18:3)

We can’t stress enough that young children make no claims of worthiness or greatness. They merely submit to the care of their parents and others who love them. Average youngsters recognize they have no resources to stay alive or put toward their needs. This is the kind of humble submissiveness that can and must lead someone to the humility of conversion.

And this is the child-like faith-response that produces greatness in God’s sight and His kingdom. Such people are ones who are humble, not greedy or ambitious, genuinely sincere, selfless, receptive to all the Father offers, and earnest to obey whatever their Lord commands.

What a contrast to the contemporary “gospel” that emphasizes self-fulfillment and promises personal success and wealth. Such understandings are the opposite of Christ’s gospel and make a mockery of the New Testament teaching on Christian living. The Lord Jesus taught unequivocally that anyone who, on his or her own terms, “has found his life will lose it” (Matthew 10:39). Those who arrogantly glorify themselves not only will not be great in the kingdom, but will never enter it.

James restates the imperative of humble conversion: “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. . . .Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:6-8, 10)

Ask Yourself:
God is always present with us, of course, but there is hard work involved in drawing near to Him when sinful temptations are pushing us away. What have you always done without by keeping your distance, and what does He always provide when you do come close?