PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 18:1-14
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)
Jesus urges his disciples (1) to humble themselves like little ones, (2) to welcome other little ones, (3) to not cause the little ones to stumble, and here in v.10, (4) to not despise other little ones. The word for despise (kata-phroneo) means to think down or against someone, to look down on them as lesser than you. Do not look down on others, because they are living in the light of the Father’s face of blessing.
“The face of my Father” (v.10) is a reference to the priestly blessing, where the servant of God (God’s ‘angel’) shines God’s blessing on God’s loved ones:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Do not despise those that God blesses, that God’s gracious and glowing smile is beaming upon. “Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” (Philippians 2:3), for this is the mindset (way of thinking) of Jesus. This looking down way of thinking is how the religious leaders saw themselves and others. They were “confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else” (Luke 18:9).
God is smiling graciously upon that seeker, struggler and sinner. The Father heart of God assigns angel/servants to love and bless them, to help them find healing, hope and new life. I am no more righteous than them. I need God’s gracious smile of blessing and I need God’s angelic help. How dare I look down on those who are equal to me in every way before God.
Is there anyone that I look down on, that I think I am better than? I need to be honest. Jesus is calling me to think differently about them: in humility to value them above myself. I need to make a list of the people I look down on, or think I am better than, and pray God’s gracious blessing over them, like the angels he has assigned to them.
Lord Jesus, these are the people I look down on: ______________. Bless them and keep them; make Your face shine to shine on them and be gracious to them; turn Your face toward them and give them Your peace.