TO BE GREAT

Jesus defines “greatness” differently than the world.  Jesus says “stardom” is really just the opposite of what the ways of the world would lead us to believe.  The disciples were jockeying for positions of greatness in God’s Kingdom, arguing about who would be “stars” with Jesus.  Who would be the ones to be noticed with the King?  Who would be out front and in charge with Jesus? 

Then, Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).

Jesus said the real stars are the servants and the sacrificial.  They are the great ones.  They are the heroes in God’s eyes.  The Apostle Paul said, Our decision all along has been to put up with anything rather than to get in the way or detract from the Message of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:12 Mes).  We must constantly examine our motives and actions.  The message we communicate, the vibe we send, the feeling that is expressed is to be the “message of Christ”, never the “message of me”.  Be great by being a servant who sacrifices as a way of life in order to bring people to salvation in Christ.