Who's your Daddy?
Monday, February 24, 2014 Posted by Sara
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Maturity comes when you figure out you need to be a kid.
The first will be last, the last will be first.
And GREATNESS comes through HUMILITY.
Today I am musing on one of Christ's very counter-culture statements, "So anyone who becomes as humble as a child is the greatest in heaven." Matthew 18:4 Isn't that just like Jesus, in the midst of his disciples clamoring for position and prestige, he pulls this little zinger out of his pocket. As if to say, "Woah boys, love your enthusiasm, but you've got the wrong idea about this whole greatness thing - it's really about being humble, it's really about being dependent on Me, it's really about being like a child." I can imagine Him adding, "We'll save the 'it may cost you your life' convo for later."
I find Christ's wisdom here striking in my life. I have always been highly motivated by achievement and success - I loved school and felt a sense of greatness from my academic accolades growing up. It was only after graduating from college when I had the real-world wake-up call that I began to see what I had put so much value and worth in was very temporary. In fact, without a GPA and report card coming my way I began to wonder what I had to offer. There I was at 22 hungering for greatness (God gave us that desire, by the way), and not knowing how to get it.
The verse in Matthew sent me on a journey. Greatness was found in humility - and Christ was the master at humility:
"You attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." Philippians 2:5-7
Greatness comes from serving, from loving those in front of you. It does not mean shrinking back or being a doormat , Jesus did neither of those - even His journey to the cross was ripe with boldness and courage.
I think measuring greatness really begins in the heart - what have we set our hearts to do in light of what Christ has done for us? Can we let our lives be focused on releasing God's love and goodness to those around us?
Can us walking in greatness release a revelation of HIS greatness to those who watch our lives?
To be great, we must become like a child - so others can tell who our Daddy is.
Sara Rust is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.