Joy: 37-Day Devotionalنموونە

I recently went to the outskirts of the Amazon Jungle in Peru on missions. As I was there, the Holy Spirit prompted me to inspect my heart. I discovered that my heart contained wrong perceptions concerning greatness in the Kingdom of God. I had the ideology that in order for me to have an impact on others, I had to take on the world’s definition of greatness. The world encourages us to pursue power, wealth, popularity, and authority as a means of achieving greatness; and I compared and measured myself to this standard. Due to my shy and withdrawn nature, this led me to feeling overwhelmed and defeated because I knew I could never live up to this expectation. 

Just as the disciples’ interpretation of greatness needed to be corrected by Jesus, so did mine. His definition of greatness is to become the least prestigious person and serve without honor for ourself. Greatness is not about having earthly power, wealth, popularity, or authority. It’s about giving yourself as a servant. 

As we ministered to an orphanage deep in the jungle, villages plagued with extreme poverty, and refuges for abused and neglected children, God opened my eyes to true greatness. I watched as Peruvian Christians, living in extreme poverty themselves, willingly served in these undeniably hard places. They served with a surrendered heart, seeking glory for His purpose only. These servants of Christ will never earn the world’s definition of greatness, but they exemplify Christ’s definition. It brought me hope knowing that it doesn’t matter if I have greatness in the world’s eyes. I don’t need the world’s attributes of greatness. My desire is to seek His attributes. I want to cultivate a servant-hearted greatness that rolls up my sleeves and shows up in the lives of all those around me. Whether it’s on the outskirts of the Amazon, to the students in my classroom, the young women I disciple, or my family I serve, it’s through a servant’s heart that greatness abounds.

Lord, help me to lead by a different model of greatness from the world. I pray for a servant hearted greatness in everything I do.