Cultivate the Spirit of a Lesser One

"He that conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one that is great." - LUKE 9:48.

IT WAS the year 32. Jesus and his apostles were in the district of Galilee.  A few of the apostles started arguing about who was the greatest among them.  The Gospel writer Luke tells us what happened:  "A reasoning entered among them as to who would be the greatest of them.  Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a young child, set it beside him and said to them: 'Whoever receives this young child on the basis of my name receives me too, and whoever receives me receives him also that sent me forth.  For he that conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one that is great." (Luke 9:46, 48) Jesus was patiently helping the apostles to understand that they needed to be humble.

Was the humble attitude Jesus told his apostles to have similar to the attitudes most Jews had at that time?  No. In fact, it was the opposite.  One book says that it was very important for the Jews to know who deserved more honor in all their relationships, and they were always worried about whether they were giving each person the honor he deserved.  (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament) Jesus wanted his disciples to be different from most people around them.

The Greek word translated "lesser be" means someone who is less important that other people or who has no power or authority. Such a person is humble and modest like children.  True Christians to day need to learn from the lesson Jesus taught his apostles.  It may hard for us to show humility, especially  in certain situations.  Our imperfection causes us to have pride and to try to be better than others.  Also, Satan's world may influence  us to become selfish, aggressive, or controlling.  What can help us to have a humble attitude?  What did Jesus mean when he said that a lesser one  "is the one that is great"?  In what situations should we show humility?

Next time: Cultivate the Spirit of a Lesser One - "O THE DEPTHS OF GOD'S RICHES AND WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE!" 

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