Striving For Greatness

Many people buy books and read articles about becoming great. Many of these dear people are Christians. 

I think if we were all honest, we would say that we don't want to just live this life but we want to thrive. We want to be successful whether that is in our job or as a wife or mother. 

Jesus was talking to a group of people about a man that He thought was great in Luke 7. 

Wow, can you imagine being called great by the Son of God, the Son of Man!!! 

Below is the passage where he was talking about John the Baptist, a prophet of God.

Luke 7:24-28
What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. 

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 

There are at least three lessons here that we can learn about why John was great.

1. He was consistent. 

John pointed people to Jesus and stood for righteousness. He would not be moved from the truth. Eventually, he literally lost his head over this, but He stood firm on the truth and was consistent. He was not like "a reed shaken in the wind."

2. He denied himself.

Life was not about what he could get. The "stuff" that he had was mainly used for survival. He ate to live. He dressed because he had to. He was not living for this world. 

3. He was NOT great. 

In fact, John was actually "the least." He lowered himself. He emptied himself. He was nothing and so God filled him up and made him great!

THIS IS GREATNESS. Want to succeed? Then stand on the truth; don't falter. 

Deny yourself. What can we give up so that someone else can "have"?

Lastly, we must empty ourselves. Let God make us great. Don't try to do it ourselves, because eventually WE WILL FALL and will be what looks like a big mess of "self" lying on the ground. Let's God make us great!  - Rejoicing in the Present