Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of God? Gary Walter, the president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, shared a sermon with us a number of years ago and gave us permission to share it. It was Jesus’ answer to this very question. Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of God?
Gary showed us that Jesus used the word “greatest” only three times in the gospel of Matt. Once He tells us that the greatest is the one who obeys all that God says. Another time, He tells us that the greatest is the one who serves. And finally, as in Mark’s parallel here, He tells us that the greatest is the one who is most like a child in their humility. So, Gary reminded us, the greatest in the Kingdom of God is the humble, obedient servant.
How’s your humility? Do you give credit where credit is due for all that happens in your life, remembering that all credit is God’s?
How’s your obedience? Do you find excuses to not have to do what God calls us to do? Do you look for the loopholes in God’s will for you?
How’s your servanthood? Do you seek to serve others, even if it costs you reputation, happiness, or time?
Humble, obedient servants of everyone else. How this world would change if we were all fighting not to be the rightest, or the most conservative, or the most progressive, or the most loving, but the greatest in the Kingdom of God.
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