The value of One , two , or Three

The Value Of One, Two, Or Three

Matthew 18

Sometimes a cartoon says it all. In a "Peanuts" cartoon, Lucy says to Snoopy: "There are times when you really bug me, but I must admit there are also times when I feel like giving you a big hug." Snoopy replies: "That's the way I am . . . huggable and buggable."

I suppose we can all identify with Snoopy. There are times when we are so very nice and easy to get along with and there are other times when we say what we think and could care less how it affects others. We are huggable and buggable. God has to put up with all kinds of attitudes and actions from His people. Sometimes I hear of churches that split over matters that should never have happened. Maybe you had some difference of opinion with another believer and you have decided it best never to talk anymore. You have drawn an imaginary line and said, "This person shall not get beyond this line." Oh how it must hurt our Father in Heaven for us to act like that. I would be so disappointed in my two children if they had a falling out and refused to speak or forgive one another. Can you imagine how God, our Heavenly Father must feel?

Matthew 18 is a whole chapter on relationships in the church. Jesus says the greatest are the children, the little ones, those who have humbled themselves and admitted their need of a Savior and therefore have entered into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus warns against allowing sin to cause you to miss out on the beauty of relationships in the church or kingdom. In the latter part of the chapter, He warns about unforgiveness. Christians, children of God, followers of Christ must be forgiving even as they have been forgiven. He tells a parable in v.23-34 and then notice the final verse: "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

I want to look more closely at the middle verses of this chapter this morning beginning at v. 10. "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." This is mor

e than about guardian angels; this is about the value of each little one in the church of Jesus Christ. No one is unimportant in the church. We come into the church through being born again, being regenerated, becoming children of God, and no child of God is without value. In fact each child has His Father's constant, full attention. We all enter the same way by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we all are equally loved by our Heavenly Father. So we are not to look down on anyone in the church. Each member is important.