Daily Devotions – “Great” Disciples

Daily Devotions – “Great” Disciples

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart: http://sothrichfield.podbean.com

 

Luke 9:44-48  (NIV)
44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

 

In this passage Jesus’s disciples are arguing about who is the greatest. This seems reasonable. After all, we hand out “employee of the month” awards for the highest GPA in high school. But Jesus flips discipleship upside down. To Jesus, the “best” disciples serve and care for the lowest and most forgotten. And who does Jesus use to illustrate this? A child! Jesus is not concerned with our ideas of status, power, or proper etiquette. He served us by giving us undeserved grace. And he calls his disciples to follow his lead. How can you be more childlike in faith? Can you be more joyful? More “in the moment”? Or maybe less worried about what others think of you? Ask Jesus to turn your idea of discipleship upside down.