Today’s passage, Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2014,%20mark%206,%20luke%209&version=NIV

What does it mean to be considered a great person? The world honors many great people such as athletes, CEO’s of major corporations, super models, movie stars and musicians. They are all considered great because of their knowledge, power, talents and abilities. Some people even honor the guy with the most toys or the girl with the best shoes as the greatest person.

But God looks at greatness in a far different way:
“An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great." (Luke 9:46-48)

The one who is least is the greatest. That’s so counter to our current culture! Jesus set a perfect example of how to live as a great man. He was born into a stable and placed in a feeding trough. He didn’t live in a fancy home or acquire wealth during his time on earth. He was sent by his Father to descend from the comfort of heaven into a world full of sin where he would be persecuted and crucified like a criminal. During His ministry, Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick and cast out demons. He dined with tax collectors and prostitutes. He put others needs before his own. He loved the unlovable. He was the ultimate servant. But what made Him the ultimate servant wasn’t what He did, but rather, the condition of His heart while he did it. He did it all for love. He did it all to glorify His Father. He didn’t serve others in order to elevate himself. He served to elevate the Father who sent Him.

Philippians 2:5-8 explains:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"

This is the perfect picture of what a great man looks like. Jesus took on the nature of a servant and he humbled Himself in obedience. Take some time for prayer and ask God to begin working with you to build a heart of a humble servant. Ask him to reveal opportunities to serve and open those doors for you. Create a partnership with the Lord and redefine greatness in your heart!

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe