Receive a Child and Receive Jesus - Matthew 18:5

Matthew the apostle wrote how, “the disciples” came “unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you 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”, and in chapter eighteen and verse five of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus said, “whoso shall receive one such little child … receives me” where we read:

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.

The verse reads, “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and whoso” or “and whatever person whether male or female” “shall receive” which means “will accept, take hold of and grant access to” “such little child” or “this kind or sort of young child” “in my name” which means “in the name which is used for everything which Jesus' name covers, everything He thought or felt and of which is aroused in His mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”. Matthew shared how Jesus presented the idea of “accepting and granting access to” “small children” and the result which follows.

The verse goes on to say, “... receives me”. Matthew continued with the words, “receives” or “accepts, takes hold of and grants access to” “me” which refers to “Jesus Himself”. Matthew shared how Jesus said anyone who “receives” a little child in His name and all that is associated with His name, also “accepts and is given access” to Him.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how important it is to “receive” “little children”. Jesus shared a direct relationship between “receiving children” and “receiving Himself”. There must be a “child like faith” to “receive Jesus Christ as the Messiah and “Savior and Lord”. Humility must be first present before a person will surrender their lives to Jesus, and without the presence of humility “like a child”, no entrance into God's beautiful “Heavenly Kingdom” shall be granted.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus declares, “whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.