Matthew 18

We begin today with the disciples asking who is greatest in the kingdom. His answer was one that challenges us even 2000 years later. The one who is humble and becomes least is greatest. Here is another saying that does not make sense nor conforms with the world's view of greatness. We must become like children and then be careful that our actions whether intentional or unintentional do not cause one of these little children to sin. Christ is also referring to those older ones in years who young in the faith. We see their angels in heaven looking out for them. He says we should rid ourselves of anything that causes us to sin. When we enter eternity, He will make us whole when we get rid of whatever is causing us to sin.

Then He teaches on forgiveness. He stretches us to forgive each other. The parable of the unmerciful servant tells us that if our father has forgiven us and we do not forgive each other then He will be intentional on disciplining each of us unless we forgive each other in our heart. He knows our heart and we cannot argue with that. Yesterday in Mark 9:49 Jesus said "For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Being at peace with one another is a command , not a suggestion. We are kidding ourselves if we think we can have peace with the father if we don't intentionally seek peace with each other. He summed it up when He said He would leave the ninety nine to go after the one lost sheep. That one may have wandered and done things repulsive to us. That brings us to the crossroads of deciding whether we will follow Him by looking around and see what God is doing around us and joining Him in that.
He is doing great things among us with the children on Wednesday nights. I encourage each of us to join Him in His ministry there. As some minister to the children, discipleship to the teen and adults is still in the forefront in what God has called us to do here. In Matthew 9 our Lord had compassion on the crowds; 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Please pray and ask the Lord of the harvest to bring workers into the field.