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December 7

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? — Matt 18:1

The Bible does not hide the faults of its saints. It paints them just as they are, blemishes and all. The disciples of Jesus joined in an unseemly scramble for office, thinking their Master was to be a king. There are ambitions and scrambles of the same kind, even among good people, in our own day. Of course it is no excuse for them that Christ’s apostles set the example. We ought to be a good deal better than the apostles were, for we have more light, greater privileges and better opportunities.

There is one right way of wishing to be great in Christ’s kingdom. It is right for us to long to be great Christians; that is, have much of the spirit of Christ. One used to pray, “Lord, make me an uncommon Christian.” That was right. Paul pressed ever toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. A hymn gives the prayer of many hearts: “Nearer, my God, to Thee.” If it is spiritual greatness we long for, it is a mark of living faith. To be satisfied as we are is a mark of death.


Mornings With God - December 7

Public domain content taken from Morning Thoughts by J.R. Miller.


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