Matthew 17 & 18

In our world, scratching our way to the top is expected. But Jesus still frustrates us with his insistence that if we want to be first in the Kingdom, we must be last here on earth. Unless we are as little children we can't enter the kingdom of heaven. That doesn't mean childish; with it's immaturity and selfishness. It means childlike, with its trusting and obedient innocence. Jesus likes to hang out with people who trust him. He consistently hears and answers their prayers. On the other hand, he gets pretty testy with those who take matters in their own hands and try to do his job.