The Road To Greatness

First of all let me tell you that greatness in the eyes of God doesn’t mean that everything you do or say is perfect. This child can’t speak plainly; and the day will probably come when her mom will wish that she had stayed this way, but she won’t. She will grow up, learning more every day, until one day she will not be a baby anymore, but will be growing into the lady that she will become in time.

Childhood is all too short sometimes. The parents wish that the baby would grow out of diapers and get potty trained, and I don’t blame them. But when that day comes, there’s a whole new set of things to deal with. Now it’s keeping them out of the cabinets and watching every move they make. Then, when they finally get old enough that you don’t have to watch that they hurt themselves, is when you have to worry about another set of circumstances.

I have discovered, as many of you have, that no matter how old your kids get, or how much they may grow and change, with every stage of life there comes a whole new set of circumstances for you to worry about, and the older they get, the more their mistakes can cost.

Some of us allow the circumstances of life to get us down to the point that we develop a face only a mother could love – like these poor folks (slide

The most obvious point of Jesus’ lesson is that he picked a small child in the first place. He didn’t pick out John and stand him up as the object lesson; and he certainly didn’t choose Peter. Even though they were to become great men of God, their greatness was yet to be developed.

Why a child? Jesus picked a child because there was no man or woman on earth who would still have the childlike spirit to use as an example. Children, especially little children, before they begin to learn that they can fight and argue to have their way, are humble, not filled with ego or pride and are not envious of anyone else. They haven’t learned the art of fighting for my rights, and they have no ulterior motives and seek no pre-eminence. They have no thoughts of who is greater or lesser. They are just content to be little kids.

So the pathway to greatness in the eyes of God is that first we must develop the same spirit as that little child.

Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Greatness in the eyes of God is not based on accomplishments that all men can see. Greatness is based on the condition of the heart and the submission of the will to God’s will. Greatness is not based on titles, offices or position; nor is it based upon how much we effect the lives of other people. All of these things are accomplished because of greatness; they don’t make us great. Greatness is something comes from the heart first of all and then shows up in what we do for God.

Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Greatness in the eyes of God can only be obtained by being more like God. If we humble ourselves as that little child to become trusting, loving and forgiving; and become a perfect servant like Jesus; then greatness can begin to grow. By receiving Christ into our hearts, we can begin that journey toward greatness, for that first step must always be to humble ourselves in the sight of God and let Him be the Lord of our lives.