“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

                                                                                                Matthew 18:3

None of my kids loved playing at the park more than Grace did. And one of her favorite things to play on was that wooden structure the kids climb on (and in) that she called “The Castle”. She’d make new friends and they’d run and play and then go and hide in the castle. The only time it became a problem was when she would say, “Dad, come in here. I want to tell you something.”

Can you guess the problem? Right. I was WAY to big to fit in there. And it wasn’t like I was Alice peering through the looking glass – I couldn’t drink a little cup of something and shrink.

That got me to thinking. How can I truly be a shepherd for God’s people on those days when I’m too big? Not physically. Not mentally. Spiritually. Those times when, as my Grandma used to say, “I get too big for my britches.”

There are times when we all have to remember that in this “super-size it” world we live in, God wants us to “small-size it”.  To humble ourselves. To make ourselves small in order to serve others. James said, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

The bottom line is this: to be big for Christ we have to become small. That simple. Willing to do whatever it takes to make sure others feel the love and grace and forgiveness and mercy of Christ, who humbled Himself even unto death.

Eternal God, give us humble hearts to serve You by serving others. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.