Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?In Biblical times, status mattered. Where you sat at a meal, who got to speak first, and whose opinions counted most were all determined by one’s status. Everyone knew where they stood in ancient Palestine. So naturally, the disciples would wonder: How will God in heaven rank everyone? How does status work there? When they asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1), they might have expected a hierarchal list from most important to least. Perhaps Moses was the greatest? King David? Or (fingers crossed) themselves as Jesus’ closest companions? But instead of naming anyone, Jesus called over a child. To modern ears, that might sound sweet. But in Jesus’ world, that would have been shocking. They were symbols of powerlessness. They had no legal rights, no status, no voice. To bring a child into the middle of that conversation would have flipped their expectations upside down. It likely would have changed what the disciples thought they understood about greatness, glory, and God's kingdom. And Jesus didn’t stop there. He said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Not only was the child not the least—Jesus implied that becoming like the child was the only way in. This would’ve been jarring. After all, adults—especially men—were considered the religious ones. Not women. Not children. Men were the ones allowed to attend school and study the Torah. Yet here, Jesus is redefining spiritual maturity. Authority, status, or scriptural knowledge isn’t what makes someone great. It’s about trust, dependence, and surrender. In John 3, Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee, approaches Jesus privately. He acknowledges Jesus’ power but is confused by His teachings. Jesus tells him, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus is baffled. How can a grown man re-enter his mother’s womb? But Jesus is speaking metaphorically. Nicodemus must begin again. He needs to be willing to give up control, authority, and independence and become like a child, completely dependent on others for survival—spiritual survival. Just a few verses later in Matthew 18, we read the parable of the lost sheep. When a sheep becomes lost, it doesn’t find its own way home alone. It stops and bleats in helplessness. It is the shepherd who lifts it up on his shoulders, and carries the lost sheep home. We can take comfort that Jesus didn’t point to the ambitious, the knowledgeable, or the status-climbers as whom we should strive to be to enter into His kingdom. He pointed to a child. He invites all of us to release the pressure to “rank” ourselves, and instead to embrace our identity as children—helpless, vulnerable, dependent, and most of all carried by the Good Shepherd. Wishing you a great Sabbath, Heather Ruth Pack Join the ConversationFor the members of the Times of Faith Facebook Discussion group. Here is this month's prompt. Where in your life do you feel the need to rank or prove yourself? What would it mean to lay that down and simply be God's child?
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What I'm Currently Working OnI’m so excited to share that Volume 1 of my Line Upon Line: Daily Devotionals from the Book of Mormon for Women is complete! This project has been a labor of love and years in the making. But before it officially goes out into the world, I’d love your help. I’m looking for a small group of beta readers who are willing to read an early manuscript and share feedback within four weeks after receiving it. Whether you read every word or just a few devotionals that speak to you, your insights will help me refine and prepare this book for self-publication. My goal is to have it available before Christmas! Here's the official description: With warmth and insight, Heather Ruth Pack explores the stories—both the well-known and unspoken—of women in the Book of Mormon. She offers thoughtful reflections and questions to ponder that connect ancient truths to your modern life. Each devotional helps you clearly see your own sacred roles: as record keepers, peacemakers, mothers, sisters, leaders, and disciples of Christ. This book will help you discover the quiet strength in your everyday faith and awaken the powerful story God is writing through you—line upon line. Follow to learn moreWas this forwarded to you?Information about monthly newsletter
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