Greatness

Every one of us want to live a life of meaning...even greatness. It is healthy to want to make a difference, to leave a mark, to strive to be better and do excellently.
It is not healthy to pull into a corner, be self-absorbed and lethargic.
Problem comes for many when they begin to equate greatness with cultural norms - size, speed, money, better-than-you's, ego.
Press for greatness.
Make life count.
But, do it Jesus' way.

Here are few thoughts about what really does add up to true greatness.

1. Focus your energy on being a servant...not a leader. Leadership comes to those who serve so well that they are asked to help others do the same. If it comes any other way, it leads to craziness. Jesus said: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave" (Matthew 20:26-27) And He said about His life: I did not come to be served, but to serve and give My life......you do it too. So serve every day, everywhere you are. Watch for ways to serve and just do it. Ask those in charge what you can do to serve them and do it. And offer all you do to the Lord as an offering of your life to Him.

2. Don't try to be flashy, impressive...instead, keep reminding yourself that faithfulness is the criterion that Jesus sets. Faithfulness is doing what you have said you would do..and doing it well, regularly, with your best energy, as though it it was someone else doing this for you. On time, ready to go, focused, humble, happy, productive...that is faithfulness. Jesus said the "well done" would be spoken only over those who had been "faithful." (Matthew 25:21) Note: you don't have to be a star, but you have to be faithful with what you have been given. "It is required of servants (quality #1) that a person be found faithful." It is a requirement of the Kingdom.

3. Greatness is measured in followability. Jesus said over and over: "Follow me" and the apostles called people to follow them. IE..if it is not changing you, don't lay the demands, expectations on anyone else. Every person with integrity. That is the Kingdom. When Jesus called people to follow it was a vulnerable (for everyone), demanding, life-changing thing that began for them all. In less than two years they all went from zero to being willing to die for the One they were following.
Can our friends, children, associates follow us?...into our habits, into our life-style, into our entertainment, into our ambitions, into our faith?

Followable. Faithful. Servant-like.

Here is greatness.

Here is Jesus.