*EXCELLENT LIFE KEYS* 🔑🗝️
Fri/04th/Nov/2022
*Francis Reign* (Ap & Coach)
_"Raising excellent agents of change and transformation, well equipped with Truth and Wisdom."_
*UNDERSTANDING THE ACTS AND WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST (195)*
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:1-3).
It shouldn't surprise us that the disciples would end up jockeying for position and pecking order among themselves. Not only is that human nature, but rank and honor were significant in the culture of the day. Perhaps it was apparent to all of them that Peter, James, and John were the preferred disciples. After all, they were selected to go with Jesus to the mountain to witness the Transfiguration. Peter often appears to be their de-facto leader, but he is also the one who is most often called out by Jesus for blunders. In Matthew 20, the mother of James and John will attempt to manipulate Jesus into promising that her two boys will be the greatest in His Kingdom, showing that either she nor the disciples yet understand that Jesus has not come to establish a political kingdom on earth at this time.
Greatness in the Kingdom seemed to be a common topic among the disciples. This was not the only time the disciples argued this topic. The disciples even argued about which of them was the greatest after the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:24). In all these instances Jesus never dismisses the disciples' question or chastises them for thinking this way. In all these instances He validates their ambition for greatness by telling them how to be great. Jesus does not attempt to tamp down their ambition, but to redefine their perspective of what constitutes true greatness.
Man's ambition and drive for greatness is innate. It was imparted to us by God when He made us in His own image. But the fall of man (Genesis 3) perverted this godly desire. It distorted man's ambition away from God's original intent and misdefined greatness to mean having as many people as possible serve "me" and "my desires." The disciples were asking the right question, but their aim was wrong. And Jesus had to correct it.
*EXCELLENCE KEY* 🗝️
_True greatness is found in serving. It is doing the work to lift others up, helping them be successful. This requires living a life of faith and obedience to God._
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*Excellence is within you. Bring it out >>*
#1585 ELK.
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