Ali or Tyson? Jordan or James? Consider any subject or topic and debates rage on about "The Greatest." Ultimately, the bottom line is that Jesus, Immanuel, put all the debates and noise to bed long ago...
In Luke 22, when questioned by His disciples about who it would be, Jesus said it'd be the ones who served as He served. But Jesus didn’t leave it open to subjective thoughts about mere philanthropy, humanitarian efforts, saving whales, or any of our twisted ideas or opinions about “service.”
Anyone can “serve” when it suits them. Even Christians will gladly serve on mountain tops when there's a badge, button, crown, legacy award, news article, recognition dinner, or other "selfless" reason to be in the spotlight.
But what about faithfulness in the Valley of Death? What about for no other reason than God commanded it? What about when the storms of life hit? When the winds blow? When the floods come and the waters rise - and continue rising even above our heads?
Are we still in? Are we still standing on the unshakable Rock or do we shake our fists, grind our teeth, mock, scorn, and abandon Him for fair-weather?
In Luke 22:38 Jesus added a wrinkle oft-overlooked or blatantly ignored due to the inconvenience and conviction involved. He objectively and authoritatively defined the greatest as “...those remaining with me in My tests and temptations.”
As it turns out, the greatest in God’s view and economy aren’t self-absorbed drama-queens perpetually digging sin-holes to make everything all about me-me-me.
Instead, the greatest are those intimately and intentionally involved and invested in Jesus, His vision, His mission, His kingdom, and His peirasmós (trials and temptations) - not our endless, self-inflicted, autobiography entitled, "Drama in Depravity."
Want to know if Christ is truly alive in you? Ask God, as did Job, Moses, David, and Paul, to examine your heart - to teach and instruct you. Ask, “Lord, how much of my life, my time, and my finances over the last year have gone directly and intentionally for Your glory vs mine?” Then lean way in, silence the noise, and listen patiently.
Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Watch when God shifts your circumstances, and see whether you are going with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
The greatest? Jesus said, “...those remaining with me in My tests and temptations.”
Blessings,
In Luke 22:38 Jesus added a wrinkle oft-overlooked or blatantly ignored due to the inconvenience and conviction involved. He objectively and authoritatively defined the greatest as “...those remaining with me in My tests and temptations.”
As it turns out, the greatest in God’s view and economy aren’t self-absorbed drama-queens perpetually digging sin-holes to make everything all about me-me-me.
Instead, the greatest are those intimately and intentionally involved and invested in Jesus, His vision, His mission, His kingdom, and His peirasmós (trials and temptations) - not our endless, self-inflicted, autobiography entitled, "Drama in Depravity."
Want to know if Christ is truly alive in you? Ask God, as did Job, Moses, David, and Paul, to examine your heart - to teach and instruct you. Ask, “Lord, how much of my life, my time, and my finances over the last year have gone directly and intentionally for Your glory vs mine?” Then lean way in, silence the noise, and listen patiently.
Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Watch when God shifts your circumstances, and see whether you are going with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
The greatest? Jesus said, “...those remaining with me in My tests and temptations.”
Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com
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