Moment of Meditation: Greatest in the Kingdom (Matthew 18:4)

''Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4).''

Everyone wants to be the greatest. The best. They want to be number one. That no one else can say that they are better. This exalted state is what we pride ourselves on.

But the kingdom of God doesn't work that way. It's the biggest and baddest that gets the top spot in Heaven. It's the lowest and least that gets the top spot. It's the reverse of the way our world works. Then again, our world is upside-down of where it's supposed to be.

We are not to exalt ourselves. Exalting ourselves is the ultimate idolatry. Seeking our own exaltation, we worship ourselves. Setting ourselves up as the very idol that we struggle to rid our lives of. We aren't to exalt ourselves.

St. James reminds us, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up" (4:10). Our exaltation comes from God. From standing before Him on Judgment Day and hearing the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant. ... Enter into the joy of your Master" (Matthew 25:21).

God is in the exalting business. Jesus humbled Himself so that He might lift us up with Him. But we must be humble before the Lord, so all our boasting can be in Him. Amen.