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What Makes A Person Great?

Tuesday March 12, 2024
 

 What do we think makes a person great and someone we would highly regard?  Some of us would name a talented sports star or a notable actor or singer.  Others might name a politician, or a teacher or mentor, or someone whose judgment they greatly respect.  The answers we might give are numerous, but they usually give an indication of the values we hold.  What did Jesus say about what it is that makes a person great? 

Jesus' disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he had a child stand there beside him. Then he said to his disciples, “When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me. Whichever one of you is the most humble is the greatest.”  (Luke 9:46-48 CEV)

 

Many of us have told exaggerated stories about our family or achievements to make ourselves appear superior to others. A mature person is one who is humble before others and willing to acknowledge their shortcomings and who they truly are on the inside.  They neither struggle nor strain to appear great before others but are childlike in their attitude and accept that without God in their life they can do nothing of value.

 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. (John 15:5 CEV) 

A mature vine is pruned each year so that it is enabled to produce a more abundant harvest.  We need to allow our gracious God to prune our thoughts and actions and anything that is clinging to us from our rebellious years.  We need to allow God to cut deeply, so that we can become mature and empowered to do those things that He has prepared in advance for us to do.

 My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies. (1 Corinthians 14:20 CEV)

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Help me to humble myself before You and allow You to raise me up.  I give You permission to strip away anything that causes me to think more highly of myself than I ought to. Amen 

 

   

 

More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

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