“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself of this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 18:1-4

Dear Jesus, There’s a secret sin in the heart of everyone that really is no secret at all. It’s the sin of desiring to be important, even more important than others. We naturally love ourselves so much that we want to be the best looking, the smartest, the most liked, the most likely to succeed, the richest and the most charming. Your disciples voiced it in a question that exposes this innate desire in all of us. We want to be the greatest. How tenderly and forcefully you answered them. “Be like children who know they are small and live in the reality of the limitations. Be like children who let themselves be rebuked by loving parents. Be like children who trust God to take care of them no matter what the circumstances. Be like children who are comfortable in their smallness.” Oh Jesus, free from ambition to be great and make me content to love and be loved. Amen.

Greatness is mostly a mirage in our minds when we are cut off from God by our self-centered pride.