A Different WaySample

You’ve probably heard the term G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) before. In the sports world, it means you’re the most athletic and talented, have won the most championships, and earned the most MVP awards. In the acting world, it means you’ve been in all the best movies and shows and have the most Oscars. In the music world, it means you have the most record sales and have won the most Grammy awards. Everyone has their opinion of who the G.O.A.T. is in the worlds of sports, acting, or music. But the thing that we can all agree on is that in order to be the G.O.A.T., you have to be the best of the best.

The world tells us that, in order to be great, we have to be the best. We have to be in first place. We have to beat out all the competition. Jesus, however, tells us there is a different way to think about greatness. He says that the G.O.A.T. is not the person who is first, but rather the person who is last.

In our world, being in last place usually isn’t a good thing. No one wants to be in last place. But Jesus shows us a different way of thinking about being last. He shows us that being last doesn’t mean that you’re the worst – it just means you’re allowing others to be before you, just like Jesus did. Even though Jesus is truly the G.O.A.T., He lived a life as if He was last. He served and loved others as if they were greater than He was. To be first in the Kingdom of God, you have to be last. To be great you have to be the least.

Reflect:

1. What about this passage stood out to you?

2. What is Jesus saying in this passage?

3. Who is someone in your life who you need to serve and put before yourself?

Pray:

Spend some time talking to Jesus and ask Him how He wants you to serve and be the least this week.