GODLY GREATNESS IS THROUGH SERVICE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MAY, 24, 2023.

SUBJECT: GODLY GREATNESS IS THROUGH SERVICE! 

Memory verse: "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23 vs 11.)

READ: Matthew 20 vs 25 - 28: 

20:25: But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.

20:26: Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

20:27: And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—

20:28: just as the Son of Man did not came to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

INTIMATION: 

Godly greatness is achieved through service. Greatness is the state, condition, or quality of being great; as, greatness of size, greatness of mind, power, etc. Great is ascribed to a person who has achieved distinction and honor in some field. To serve is to meet the needs of, and subject one’s will to that of another. Therefore, godly greatness is achieved through distinctive and honorable commitment to serving God and His creation. To serve God is to subject to the will of God. When we give our lives in service to God, we discover the real purpose of living; you live an exceedingly fruitful life and achieve greatness in God’s assessment. Real discipleship implies real commitment—pledging our whole existence to His service or will. 

All the disciples wanted to be the greatest (Matthew 18 vs 1), but Jesus taught them that the greatest person in God’s kingdom is the servant of all. Authority is given, not for self-importance, ambition, or respect, but for useful service to God and His creation. Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 23 vs 11, "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." Jesus challenged society’s norm. To Him greatness comes from serving—giving yourself to serve God and others. Service keeps us aware of others' needs, and it stops us from focusing only on ourselves. Jesus, the greatest man, came as a servant. Evaluate yourself to find out what kind of greatness you seek.

God requires our all in serving Him. In Matthew 16 vs 24 - 25, Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” In service to God, if we try to save our physical life from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing our true eternal life. If we protect ourselves from the pains, and discomfort of this world, usually inherent in service to God, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward, we become selfish, and we lose our intended purpose.

Service is a cure for selfishness. In Philippians 2 vs 3 the Bible says, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Considering others' interests as more important than our own links us with Christ, who was a true example of selflessness. We are to lay aside selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy. 

We are called to serve even at great cost to us. In Luke 1 vs 26 - 38, God visited Mary through an angel and asked her to serve Him. She was told that she will conceive in her womb and bring forth a Son. Mary wondered how possible this can be, since she knew no man and was only betrothed to Joseph. The angel assured her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the power of the Highest will overshadow her. It is logical for her to have doubted because such has never happened in history, and she ought to have refused because of the enormous negative societal implications of conceiving and bearing a child outside marriage. 

A young unmarried girl who became pregnant risked disaster. Unless the father of the child agreed to marry her, she would probably remain unmarried for life. If her own family rejected her, and she cannot fend for herself as a single parent, she could be forced out into begging or prostitution in order to earn her living. And Mary with her story about being made pregnant by the Holy Spirit, risked being considered crazy as well. Still Mary said, despite the possible risks, "Let it be done to me according to your word." When Mary said that she didn't know about the tremendous opportunity she would have. She only knew that God was asking her to serve Him, and she willingly obeyed. She never bothered about the bottom line before offering her life to God. 

God has a place for all to serve. He knows us more than we know ourselves, and we are called to serve God in specific ways. Therefore, avoid excuses when God calls you to serve. He that called you knows about you and will equip you for any tasks He gives you. Although God promises us the tools and strength we need, we often make excuses. But reminding God of our limitations only implies that He does not know all about us or that He has made a mistake in evaluating our character. Spend the time to make excuses on doing what God wants. 

Jesus, the greatest man ever, came to be a servant to the spiritual needs of humanity. As He made tremendous sacrifices to pay our debt, so we should work to serve the needs of others to achieve real greatness—godly greatness!

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to serve You and others diligently and acceptably with the talents, abilities, and resources You bestowed on me, that I may lead a purposeful and fulfilled life, and achieve godly greatness, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!