Read: Mathew 20:20-28
Meditation verse:
“But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Mathew 20:26)
The mother of Zebedee’s sons, James and John approached Jesus and requested that He gave her sons a special place in His kingdom. But Jesus answered and said “you do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptised with the baptism that I am baptized with?
The pathway to greatness is laced with service and suffering. Jesus Christ is our perfect example. Despite being God, He did not come into this world to be served, rather he came in the form of flesh to serve and to give His life a ransom for us all. Philippians 2:7-11 puts it aptly; “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. In order words, there can be no glory or honour without a cross.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Service is the pathway to true and lasting greatness. Jesus distinguished true greatness from what the world considers greatness when He said “you know the gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave” (Mathew 20:25-27).
Great leadership can be identified by loyal and faithful followership. Followers who willingly follow and are ready to lay down their lives for their leader. This can only happen if the leader has first laid down their life in service, just as our great master Jesus Christ did. Do you desire to have lasting greatness? Roll up your sleeves today and serve.
IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).
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