Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 10, 11, 12, Luke 9:42-62.
“And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” – Luke 9:48 (KJVS).
The Lord Jesus said at different times in the scripture that the way up is down! This is contrary to our intuition but that is the way of the Lord. Hence the way to greatness is lowering yourself before God. This is why Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. That is also why He laid down his life for us all to gain several lives back.
When a farmer decides to farm, he must decide to lose part of his seeds to gain more. If he eats all his seeds instead of planting some, he will not have anything to reap in future. Therefore to be great in life, you have to lower yourself and do away with pride. That’s why Apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:3 (KJVS), “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” This is contrary to the world expectations, we are taught in the secular that you should continuously make your voice known to be recognised but the bible is saying we should rather esteem others better than ourselves. This means we should do away with pride. Unfortunately, the flesh likes to be pampered, it likes to be glorified and so it will take your conscious effort to suppress it.
Sometimes ago, a Christian brother told me a personal experience concerning ego. He said he was helping a lot of people in the church and every Sunday, people would come out and give testimony thanking him for being used of God to help them. He then noticed that he was always eager for the testimony time so that his ego would be rubbed. Then the Holy Spirit spoke to him that he was pandering more to the flesh. This example is an indication of how some men of God lose their connection to the Holy Spirit as they continuously glory in the praise of men based on how they have been used by God to meet the needs of people.
Are you also glorying in your position, authority or resource which God gives to you? It is important to remember that God will not share his glory with anyone. That’s why Belshazzar was killed and the Babylonian kingdom was taken from him by God because he did not glorify God (Daniel 5:18-30). The same reason, Nebuchanezzar his father, was turned to an animal for seven years because he did not glorify God ( Daniel 4:29-37). But God is for ever ready to esteem anyone who humbles himself. Thus he restored Nebuchadnezzar when he humbled himself and gave glory to God. In Daniel 4:37 (KJVS) he said, “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”
Thus the way to greatness is to humble oneself and let God lift you up. This is better stated by the Lord Jesus in Luke 9:48 (KJVS) “And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great”
Prayer: Father please help me to be humble in all my ways in the mighty name of Jesus.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero