Luke 9:46

Luke 9:46 says, Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.  Jesus's disciples started to reason, or we would probably say argue, about which of them should be the greatest.  They still did not understand Who Jesus really was nor what He had called them to do.  Some people today still argue about who is the greatest in God's kingdom, but when they do, it shows that they really don't know what it means to follow Christ.  Verse forty-seven adds, And Jesus, perceiving the thought of the heart, took a child, and set him by him,  Jesus knew what they were thinking, and took a child and set him by Him.  We need to realize that we will be held accountable not only for our actions, but for our thoughts as well.  Verse forty-eight continues, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. Jesus said anyone who received a child in His name received Him, and anyone who received Him received the heavenly Father Who sent Him.  The key is not receiving the child, but faith in Jesus Christ as ones Savior and Lord.  Then Jesus said the least among them, and He was talking to His disciples, would be greatest.  We should never serve God for self recognition by the world.  Verse forty-nine states, And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.  John told Jesus that the disciples had seen someone casting out devils in Jesus's name, and they forbid him from doing so.  The man was evidently being successful in doing what God would have His people do, even if He wasn't one of the twelve disciples.  We should never attempt to stop other people from doing God's work because we feel they aren't qualified or authorized.  Verse fifty adds, And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.  Jesus told them to not forbid the man, because anyone who was not against Jesus was for Him.  We cannot limit who serves God as long as they have put their faith in Jesus.  Verse fifty-one says, And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,  When the time came that Jesus was to be received up, or killed, He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem.  Jesus knew what awaited Him, but He didn't waiver in His resolve to do it, and neither should we.  We should set our face resolutely not on Jerusalem but on Jesus, and never waiver in our faith, even if it costs us our life.  Verse fifty-two adds, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.  Jesus sent a messenger before Him into Samaria, a place that the Jews avoided.  We need to carry God's good news of salvation to all people, whether we like them or not.  Verse fifty-three continues, And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.  The Samaritans did not receive Jesus, and He remained steadfast in His resolve to go to Jerusalem.  If people that we witness to do not accept us, we must still remain steadfast in doing what He calls us to do.  Verse fifty-four states, And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?  When James and John saw that the Samaritans rejected Jesus, they asked if they should call down fire from heaven as Elijah did and destroy the Samaritans who rejected Jesus.  Destroying those who reject Jesus is not our responsibility.  We are still to reach out to them with the love of God.  Verse fifty-five adds, But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.  Jesus rebuked James and John and told them they didn't know what spirit they were under, but it wasn't His spirit.  If we begin to call for the destruction of those who will not accept Jesus, then we are not operating under His spirit.   Verse fifty-six continues, For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.  Jesus told them that He didn't come to destroy people but to save them, and that is still true today.  Jesus and the disciples went to another village to witness, and if we are rejected when we witness today, we must just move on to someone else to witness to.