September 24, 2019

 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein (Mark 10:15).
 
    When Dwight L. Moody was in Scotland, a friend told him of a Scotch lass who came to the inquiry room as he was preaching.  The minister there talked with her and said, "Young woman, you go home and read the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah."
 
    The girl threw up her hands and said, "I cannot read; I cannot pray.  Jesus, take me as I am."
 
    "And," said the great evangelist, "she found what she desired."
 
    In our text today Jesus says not merely "child," but "little child."  We are to receive the kingdom of God as a little child would receive it--in sincerity, in complete faith and trust, and with humility.  And how do we become as little children in the sense of this promise text?  The answer is in Matthew 18:3, 4: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven"
 
    To have a part in Christ's kingdom one must become converted and live in humility, with victory over human pride.
 
                                Lord, might I be but as a saw,
                                A plane, a chisel in Thy hand.
                                No, Lord, I take it back in awe;
                                Such prayer for me is far too grand.
                                I pray Thee, rather, let me lie
                                As on Thy bench the favored wood;
                                Thy saw, Thy plane, Thy chisel ply
                                And work me into something good.
                                                                    __George Macdonald
 
 
MEDITATION PRAYER:  "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me" (Ps. 131:1).