How To Measure Greatness

SCRIPTURE

23 Then he said to all, "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me! 24 Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it, but whoever insists on keeping his life will lose it; 25 and what profit is there in gaining the whole world when it means forfeiting one's self? 26 "When I, the Messiah come in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels, I will be ashamed then of all who are ashamed of me and of my words now.”
Luke 9:23-26 (Living)

46 Now came an argument among them as to which of them would be greatest in the coming Kingdom! 47 But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he stood a little child beside him 48 and said to them, "Anyone who takes care of a little child like this is caring for me! And whoever cares for me is caring for God who sent me. Your care for others is the measure of your greatness." 49 His disciple John came to him and said, "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons. And we told him not to. After all, he isn't in our group." 50 But Jesus said, "You shouldn't have done that! For anyone who is not against you is for you."
Luke 9:46-50 (Living)

For further study: Galatians 5:16 – 6:18, Ephesians 4 - 6

OBSERVATIONS

It is easy to get in the worldly frame of mind and seek to please ourselves with the conveniences and toys that are available in this rich country we live in. It is difficult to carry all those things around and still have the strength to carry our cross as well. Anyone would say that the cross is more important to carry but it is easy to be tempted toward our own pleasure and gain, but what gain is it to obtain this whole temporary world and then lose it all and also lose the eternal?

Self denial is foreign to our human nature yet it is taught by Christ and it is in all of Paul’s writings. The disciples were having a difficult time with the concept and argued who would have the most status in Christ kingdom. He summed it up by stating: “Your care for others is the measure of your greatness."
They still didn’t get it and became jealous that someone outside of their group was doing great things for God. It’s not about me its about God first and then others.

APPLICATION

I need to help others even when it doesn’t feel good,

PRAYER

Lord I pray that I will deny myself of luxury and ease and help others physically by serving them, financially and by showing them Jesus.

Are You Worthy

Scripture

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Luke 7:1-10 (Living)

1 When Jesus had finished his sermon he went back into the city of Capernaum. 2 Just at that time the highly prized slave of a Roman army captain was sick and near death. 3 When the captain heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. 4 So they began pleading earnestly with Jesus to come with them and help the man. They told him what a wonderful person the captain was.
"If anyone deserves your help, it is he," they said,5 "for he loves the Jews and even paid personally to build us a synagogue!"

6-8 Jesus went with them; but just before arriving at the house, the captain sent some friends to say, "Sir, don't inconvenience yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of any such honor or even to come and meet you. Just speak a word from where you are, and my servant boy will be healed! I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my men. I only need to say 'Go!' and they go; or 'Come!' and they come; and to my slave, 'Do this or that,' and he does it. So just say, 'Be healed!' and my servant will be well again!"

9 Jesus was amazed. Turning to the crowd he said, "Never among all the Jews in Israel have I met a man with faith like this." 10 And when the captain's friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.

Observations

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The Captain has a sick servant that was very important to him, he has heard about Jesus and sends some Jewish elders to ask Jesus to come and heal his slave. The crowd told Jesus what a good man the captain is and that he deserves Jesus help. The captain probably had a nice home, servants, power and good character but later he sends messengers to Jesus and tells him that he is not worthy to have Jesus come to his home.

The crowds that always followed Jesus did not demonstrate the faith or the respect for Jesus that the captain had. He knew his status next to Jesus was very low no matter how rich, powerful or popular he was.

Application

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I have to remember that I am just filthy rags but God still chooses to love and care for me.

Prayer

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Keep me humble Lord cause I don't deserve to have you care for me.