Monday, April 24 – Luke 9:48

And He said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

Caring for children often requires sacrifice. From the newborn stage, parents sacrifice sleep and rest to care for their baby around the clock. Even as a child gets older, parents sacrifice time, money, and plans to care for their children. Caring for people in any capacity can be messy and costly. When our aim in life is comfort, wealth, and status, carrying for others will always be more costly than we want to pay but, in this passage, we see that it is in a life of service and care that we find Jesus and find true greatness in Him. Jesus said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

We care for children because we recognize their inherent value, even when they cannot repay us. We understand their needs because we once had those same needs. When we follow Jesus, we never arrive in a place where we don’t have to look after the needs of others. Instead, serving those in need is a part of our daily call to live like Jesus. When we love others and receive them in care, we receive Jesus and the truth of His life. By these acts of service, we grow deeper in our relationship with Him and understand His heart for creation a little better.

• When has serving others felt too costly to you?
• Who have you seen embody the life of a godly servant?
• Pray and ask God to transform your heart to see and care for the needs of others.