Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "least". We see it in these verses:

Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. KJV

Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. KJV

These are both the Greek word "mikros". Strong's Concordance says: small in size, quantity, number or dignity. The Theological Dictionary adds: small in compass or significance. Short in time (young in age). Short in stature (as Zacchaeus). John the Baptist was great among those born under the Old Covenant, but he was not born again because he died before Jesus died becoming sin with our sin and rose to give us His LIFE. Even the 'least' significant born again person is 'greater' than John because we have been recreated in the image of God (perfect spirits) and have Holy Spirit living IN us. Then we have these verses:

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. KJV

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. KJV

1 Corinthians 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. KJV

These are all the Greek word "elachistos". Vine's Expository Dictionary says: least, little, used of size, amount, authority, estimation. The Theological Dictionary says: in the Greek world "mikros" means small while elachistos means smallest. In Matthew Jesus was saying that even the least significant person in His body still represents HIM! In Luke He is saying that the person who is faithful in even the least important things (that maybe no one else sees or appreciates) can be trusted to be faithful in even bigger things. I remember Bob Yandian teaching once that you can teach anyone skills if they are faithful, but that you cannot teach faithfulness. In 1 Corinthians Paul is saying that he considers himself to be the least of all the apostles because of how he treated the believers before he was born again. Yet God did not see him that way as He had Paul write a great portion of the Epistles! Whether other people, or even we ourselves, see us as the 'least' significant, God sees all of us as precious and valuable enough to have sent His Son to die for us! Our obligation to God is to stop seeing ourselves as other people see us, or as we see ourselves, and instead to see ourselves as HE sees us! And that brings us to the song for this week, "Who You Say I Am" by Hillsong Kids:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!