PATH TO GREATNESS

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Text : Mathew 20:27

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

"If you are too big to serve, you are too small to lead," so goes the popular saying. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry propounded so many ideologies and belief systems that are at variance with the norms, and values of this world's system.

Being a maverick leader, Jesus Christ our Lord still expects His disciples today never to conform to this world and its system.
While the world says that a  leader is to be served, Jesus says that a leader is to serve.

The parameter for leadership as far as Jesus is concerned is SERVICE. A song writer rendered it thus: "If you want to be great in His Kingdom, learn to be servant of All". Contrary to the world's  pattern, God's kngdom has spelt out servanthood as the pathway to greatness. 

Though, servanthood  is synonymous to service in a way, but it is much more than service. Greatness in the kingdom of God is not achieved by display of spiritual giftings or achievements. It is achieved by heart of humility and service. 

Many people can provide service without being a servant. But when you are a servant, you will certainly provide service.

Jesus did not only point out service but He displayed what He was saying by exemplifying it.
He rose from the supper, and laid aside his garments; took a towel, and girded himself.
After that, he poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was 
girded. (John 13:4-5).

The way up is down. The lower you go in service to God and humanity, the higher you go up in life and in God.

Jesus, by laying aside His garment, and taking on a towel simply means that he took off His prestigious position and Status as the master, and took on a lower and servanthood status. From the advent to the departure of Jesus Christ, He demonstrated the taking off of garment at several points. Two of these examples include His birth and death.

1. He took off the garment of Godhead when coming to the earth.(Philippians 2:6-7).

2. They took off His physical garment at the cross. (Matthew 27:35).

Jesus emphatically told his disciples, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you".(John 13:14-15).

This is not another doctrine of feet washing,  but of servanthood (coming down from your horse to serve even at the lowest level).

Serving others does not always come  easy, but it does have great gain.


PRAYER FOCUS

1. Ask the Lord to give you the spirit of Humility and servanthood.
 
Bible Reading:
 
Philippians 2:5-11
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