This is sadly comic, the disciples bickering about position when Jesus is preparing to die.
After three years, they still do not understand the heart of God, of Jesus, of the kingdom.
The kingdom of God is not about position or power or prestige.
It is about living and loving and leading like Jesus, ruling through humility, servanthood, grace.
This is the kingdom that God has conferred on Jesus, and on us, and it is what He is dying for!
We exercise kingdom authority when we stand with Jesus, with the Spirit’s help, in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness goodness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).
We show our kingdom greatness by our kingdom service – not by our great programs or churches or budgets, not by our great jobs or houses or investments or positions.
Everywhere you see someone living and loving and leading like Jesus, you see God’s kingdom coming.
When you perform an act of kindness, or serve someone in need, or forgive someone who hurt you, or love someone who hates or hurts you, you are revealing God’s kingdom!!!!
So many churches and christians have this wrong – we admire the successful churches, the famous speakers and leaders (we even give or seek autographs, just like the world does).
My greatness does not depend on how I am like Bill Hybels or Billy Graham or Joy Meyers, but with how I am like Jesus.
This is what makes me great, and you too!
So the question is, am I living this kingdom life, am I great in this kingdom way?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, this is what will make me and our church great. Loving, serving, blessing. We may be few in numbers, we may have a small budget, we may not be the church that everyone wants to go to… but we are serving You, and that makes us great!
Observation/Application
Christ came down as One who serves.
Jesus once again turns the tables upside down. The way of greatness is humility and servanthood.. To serve is to reign with Christ. Once again, the JOY principal – Jesus/Others/Yourself. Christ first. Others before yourself sharing your love and concern with them.
Lord, make me a servant of love in Your Kingdom today.
Make me a servant, humble and meek
Lord, let me lift up, those who are weak.
And may the pray’r of my heart always be;
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant, today.