Devotional:God’s Universal Love:Matthew 18:1-6

“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3, NASB).

When Jesus chose twelve men to be His disciples that would become apostles, He chose men from various social and economic backgrounds. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen. They owned small businesses. Levi, also called Matthew was a hated tax collector. He worked for the hated Roman government and if he was like other tax collectors he cheated the people out of their money. Simon was a zealot that opposed Roman authority and domination. All of these men had put their primary way of life aside to follow Jesus. As they traveled with Jesus they heard His teaching and saw His miracles. What was in this for them each of them wondered? When Jesus came into His kingdom what benefits would they receive? Each wanted to know what would be their rank in the new kingdom?

The disciples asked Jesus to tell them where they stood in His plans. Instead of Jesus answering the question directly, He answered the most important question that they did not ask. So, taking a child Jesus explained to them that instead of worrying about positions they needed to be sure that they would enter the kingdom. Jesus told them they had to be humble in the same way that the child in His arms was humble. The child allowed Jesus to hold him/her; surrendering self to the control of Jesus. They too must surrender themselves to Him.

God’s love is universal. There are no distinctions made because of race, social background, or any other status that the world makes distinctions of. In 1 John 2:2 the author writes: “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (NASB).

Love is universal. God’s love and salvation is available to all people and every person. We become recipients of God’s love when we become as children.

Prayer: Lord Jesus we humble ourselves and receive Your love. Amen.