Jesus motivates His disciples to live righteously by emphasizing
that such living comes from the heart with love and in trust, more than through
observance of an external code of ethics. Consequently, NT wisdom reveals the
differences between a correct behavior, based only on the Law, and righteous
actions that proceed from the heart of a new life reborn in Christ.
How
does one become great in the kingdom of God? (Luke 22:25-27)
The Lord Jesus chose men-ordinary
fallible humans beings-to be His disciples.
Like people everywhere, they wrestled with pride and ambition (Matt. 20:20-23).
Realizing their striving, Jesus set a little child down in their midst, saying
that in the kingdom, the great are like children-humble, trusting, and
teachable (Matt. 18:4).
Later, when their concern for status surfaced again,
he elaborated this law, saying that the greatest is the servant of all (Luke
22:25-27). This standard works today!
The great in our society are people who serve the sick, the needy, and
the wounded. These are great because
they have given themselves to serve others.
Jesus Christ leads the list. He
is the greatest of all because He gave Himself for the sins of the world (Phil.
2:1-11).
There is a very practical outworking of the law of
greatness in the everyday world. Those
who do serve the most people may often become the most famous and
prosperous. But this was not their
motive; rather, recognition seems to be the inevitable fruit of self-giving,
childlike service to mankind.
In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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