The Least Ones - A True Story

– Great People are Humble before God

The Least Ones – A True Story

 

“What do you think you’re doing? Don’t bother Jesus with your children.  He’s tired! So shoo!”

Saddened mothers and disappointed little ones turned slowly away. All day they had talked of meeting this wonderful Jesus. What it would be like to see Him eye ball to eye ball and be the one to sit upon His lap.

 “I guess you have to be big and important before Jesus notices

you.”

“I thought He was different” added another.

“Well He’s not! Jesus is like all the other grownups who say children should be seen and not heard.”

The rest of the story

An angered Jesus arose from His rest and put his disciples in their place.

“Don’t you know anything? Don’t you understand value?  These little ones are the heart of my kingdom. You must become like them. Bring them to me…now!”

The disciples hung their heads in shame while Jesus opened His arms and called the children.

And they came—running! They looked into the kindest eyes they

ever remember seeing. With adoring faces they hugged Jesus and begged to sit close to Him.

“Jesus, let me sit on your knee.”

“Jesus, I have a loose tooth.”

“Jesus, I love you!”

Jesus, my cat is sick. Please pray for her.”

And the King of kings had the time of His life. He was in His element.

Each mother cried a few tears as the Savior commented on God’s greatness in her little shining star.

The fatigue was gone. Jesus was refreshed.

He is King—Creator—God. He is He returning soon to defeat the devil and shut the mouths of the wicked.

And yet, one of His greatest moments was His time with the small, the weak, the helpless, and the humble—the ones who knew they

needed Him desperately. Were they the least ones? No—these were the great ones!

"Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3

Dear Lord, I am grown but on the inside I am still a child in great need of You. I come to you now as a little one and humble myself before You. I NEED YOU!

Guilty!

Called to Greatness...Called to Impact! 

Great Men are Humble before God

Guilty!

“I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down.’

Psalm 51:3 (MSG)

David was bored and when he saw beautiful Bathsheba bathing—that was it!

“Oh, baby! She’s what I need. Married to me? No.

Married to another? No bother. I’m king. I can do anything.”

“Get me that girl… tonight!”

And Bathsheba came—like a little lamb. David took one look at

her, pulled her

into his arms, kissed her lovely face, and crossed the boundaries of

holy matrimony.

It didn’t matter that Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, was in battle that very night

risking his life for his king. David got what he wanted!

The plot thickens. “David, I’m pregnant.”

The cover up

“General Joab, send Uriah home. He needs time at home…with his wife.”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

Uriah came home but slept outside the king’s gate. “Why aren’t you home?”

“Enjoy my wife while all the army of Israel camps outside in the open field?”

David fussed, “Lordy, Lordy, some sticky situation. How can I come out smelling like a rose?”

“General Joab!”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Put Uriah the Hittite on the front line of battle when the fighting gets tough.”

And so a noble soldier fell in battle and David made Bathsheba his wife.

But God saw

Nathan, the prophet, was listening. “What’s that you say about David, Lord?”  

Nathan packed his donkey and headed for Jerusalem.

“David, you have sinned against God! Much trouble will come to your family.”

“Aw, come on God. I just wanted a little fun. You made me this way. Others have done far worse.”

David didn’t say that! He made no excuse.

 He fell on his face. 

“Against you only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight.”

And God forgave David—immediately!

King David was called a man after God’s own heart. Why?—because he humbled

himself before God.

        Guilt had hung over him like a club.

                      He was tired of pretending.

          He wanted to be close to God—again. 

He repented!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         This is greatness—humility before God for sin.
Dear Lord, Please forgive me for this sin_____________. I was wrong.

That's Not Fair

                                   

          Great people -
 Don’t throw pity parties

That’s Not Fair!

“But the Lord was with Joseph, and was good to him, and made the keeper of the prison his friend”.

Genesis 39:21

Her eyes lit up as Joseph entered the spacious Egyptian home. Taking extreme caution that all servants were dismissed, Potiphar’s unfaithful wife sauntered towards Joseph with seduction in every step.  Her eyelashes fluttered and as her lips parted she smiled with daring confidence. Her gown revealed her well-formed breasts and she had taken care for Joseph’s eyes to rest there. Tracing her fingers up his muscled torso she whispered in tormenting sweetness, “Lie with me, Joseph.”

Lovely, yet deceitful, Potiphar’s spouse set her eyes on Joseph. Today she’d get her man. Joseph had guarded himself from her. But now, as her perfume tantalized his senses, he had to act quickly. If he lingered, unbridled passion would take hold. Sin against God, forget who he was? No, there was only one thing left to do—run! And he did!  

The cheating wife screamed—rapist!

Potiphar in his pride yelled —how dare you touch my wife!

For good behavior Joseph was thrown—into jail!

Not fair!

And until Joseph became second ruler in Egypt, he sulked, felt sorry for himself, grumbled, and told everyone his story.

 It just wasn’t fair… What those people did to me…and where was God?

No! He didn’t do that—would never reach God’s best that way. God had given him a dream...a destiny...for greatness!

Instead

Joseph rolled up his sleeves, and asked the jail keeper, “How can I help?”

Even while his feet were in chains,

            even while his dreams of great purpose faded away,

                            even when God seemed not to care,

                                            Joseph honored God.

Why?

Great people don’t grumble when life is unfair. And great people know that God doesn’t lie…can’t lie. And great people will rise from the rubble of life because—God is with them— they just can’t fail!

Take this and run with it—today! He’s called you—to greatness!

Dear Lord, I can to this because you were nailed to a cross for me. Was that fair?

Serving  God

Pray for Others...Even When It 's Hard
“When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.”
Luke 6:28 (MSG)

  
 The school was buzzing with the news. Students to perform in the special Christmas ensemble choir had been chosen. Beth's name was not to be found on the selected list.  Her heart sank. Not chosen...Why?

Beth hung her head. Didn’t she have a gift? Didn’t others say so—besides her parents?  She felt like a loser…hurt like one…acted like one.

Rehearsal was every day. Until the night of the Christmas program,  Beth would have to sit with others in the school wide choir and watch the special ensemble practice. She was crushed. Her friends in the ensemble  choir were rather prideful about their superior position and Beth could feel their snubs, their coolness toward her.

One day she shared her disappointment with her very wise grandmother. “Pray for the choir, Beth. Start praying for them and their performance. Love never fails. Love isn’t proud. Love is kind, and it never thinks evil of others.”

It was perfect advice. It came from the Bible…of course it was good!

And that’s what Beth did. As she watched the ensemble practice she prayed for them. As she prayed, God changed her heart. She genuinely cared for their success. The anger she once felt melted away and joy came on its heels.  On the night of the Christmas program Beth’s face beamed. Smiling, she told her grandmother, “Didn’t the ensemble do a wonderful job?”

Great people pray for the success of others.

They are not afraid to serve God with their prayers.

Two years later Beth was awarded the school’s music award. Only one student was selected for this prize. Beth had learned a secret. Serving by praying for those who fared better than herself brought joy—brought peace—brought reward!

Dear Lord, Who needs my prayer today? Show me...I will pray for them!