Great In The Kingdom

March 7 2006

Great In The Kingdom - Verse of the Day :
And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called "benefactors." But not so among you; on the contrary,he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves."
- Luke 22:25-27

Daily Bible Reading Plan

Morning : Luke 22

Evening : Numbers 31-32

God is not against us desiring greatness. Because our God Himself is a great God, every true believer has the seed of greatness implanted in his spirit. We dream dreams and see visions of ourselves achieving significance and purpose in life.

In Luke 22, there was again a dispute among Jesus' disciples as to which of them should be considered the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus didn't rebuke them for their aspirations. What He wanted to prevent was their succumbing to pride and selfish ambition.

Realizing their striving, Jesus once sat a little child down in the midst of the disciples, saying that in the kingdom, the great are like children--humble, trusting and teachable (Matt. 18:4). Now that their concern for status surfaced again, Jesus elaborated the principle that the greatest in the kingdom is the servant of all (Luke 22:25-27).

This standard still works today! The greatest in our society are people who serve the sick, the needy and the wounded. These are great because they have given themselves to serve others. Jesus Christ tops the list. He is the greatest of all because He gave Himself for the sins of the world (Phil. 2:1-11).

March 7 - Great In The Kingdom - Christian Daily Devotions

There is a very practical outworking of this principle of greatness in our everyday world. Those who serve the most often become the most famous and prosperous people.

But when you do a study on many of them, glory and riches are usually not their motives. Rather, the recognition and esteem of others seem to be the inevitable fruit of their self-giving, childlike service to mankind.

One pastor once said that every Christian is shaped for service, using the word "SHAPE" as an acronym. "S" stands for spiritual gifts. "H" stands for heart's desire. "A" stands for ability. "P" stands for personality. And "E" stands for experience.

When you put them all together and get into "SHAPE," you should have a good idea of the ministry that God has set you in so that you may become salt and light to the world.

March 7 - Great In The Kingdom - Christian Daily Devotions

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