A Thought for Wednesday 8/7/13

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”  Matthew 18:10-11 NKJV

The tone for the teaching in chapter 18 is set when Jesus is asked by His disciples, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  Jesus calls a child forward and states very clearly that we must become “as little children” in our conversion to faith if we ever want to see the Kingdom.  We must be as willing to believe as we are willing to continue following, just as a child would do without question.  It is more than an intellectual acknowledgement, and it far transcends that moment of justification when we become aware of our sins and our need for a Savior.  That “the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” is clearly stated, but is it really understood?  That is, do we really think it’s all done if we just “get saved”?  Do we no longer have a need for Messiah beyond that?

When we travel we can consult a map and even stop to ask for directions when we are off track.  Through these means we can be put back on the right path.  However, we know how easily we can take a wrong turn and become lost again even if we do know of the ultimate destination.  The same is true of our spiritual path.  It is a mistake to believe that “getting saved” ends the Journey, for it is far too easy to become “lost” at any point when we become distracted and follow our own path rather than to constantly seek the Lord and trust Him enough to follow Him.

It is when we become too self-assured when we are more likely to deviate from the Path, when we decide for ourselves that once “saved” or “justified” (depending on the language of a particular tradition) that we no longer have a real need for a Savior.  This is when we find ourselves “lost” yet again – when we try to go it alone and choose our own path.  This is not only foolish but spiritually dangerous, for our Lord does not save us IN our sin or IN darkness; He delivers us FROM our sins and brings us into the Light.  It is up to us to follow Him faithfully “as a child” rather than to expect Him to follow us. 

There is a lesson in the Exodus for us.  Forty years in the wilderness to teach Israel about the Lord and about living in community with one another, learning how to follow the Lord until they actually arrived at the Promised Land – and we somehow think we can achieve the fullness of that relationship in an instant and never be lost again?  No!  We must “become” as little children and then follow as little children, willing to admit there is no moment in our lives when we do not need a Savior, THE Savior.

Blessings,

Michael