Texts: Ezekiel 33:7–9; Romans 13:1–10; Matthew 18:1–20

Living as Humble Little Children of the Father

Lectionary Summary: True greatness is not self-sufficient strength, but humility like that of a little child. The greatness of childlike faith receives all good things as gracious gifts from our Father in heaven. Apart from such faith, “you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” but whoever is humbled like a little child will be “the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3–4). Though in our sin we deserve to be “drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6), we have instead been drowned (“buried”) with Christ in Baptism and then raised to the new, humble life of a child of God. The Lord sends His watchman to warn us with a word from His mouth, in order that we may not die in our iniquity but be turned from our pride and selfishness to live (Ezek. 33:7–9). Thus, we live in humility and faith before God as well as in love for our neighbor, which “is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10). In the reverent fear of God, we do no harm to our neighbor, but we “pay to all what is owed to them” (Rom. 13:7) and we “owe no one anything, except to love each other” (Rom. 13:8). (LCMS.ORG)

Acknowledgments:
Devine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book.
Scripture quotations are from ESV Bible
All Liturgy Audio Files are from LCMS Worship Ministry - Lutheran Service Book Audio (https://lcms.app.box.com/v/lutheran-service-book)
Please note that the Hymnals are taken from online Auto-generated by YouTube and from thehymnalproject.org, Lutheran Warbler,
Koiné, Downtown Music Publishing, CPH, Forth in the Peace of Christ We Go · OCP Session Choir; Psalm Roar March 2014 Providence Church Pensacola, FL