Foundations Jan 26, 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Malachi 1-4 and Revelation 22

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) And he will be called Wonderful Counselor…

 

Matt 5:19 …Whoever does and teaches them [God’s commandments], he shall be called
great in the Kingdom of Heaven
Revelation 5:10 He…made us kings and priests to our God…we shall reign on earth.
We were destined for greatness and it is within our grasp if we choose it. Jesus wants us
to be great. Jesus never rebuked anybody for wanting to be great, only for fulfilling it in the
wrong way. We were made for greatness and honour but the only way into greatness is
through the cross of Jesus and by walking in meekness.
Matthew 20:26-27 Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And
whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.
Matthew 18:4 Whoever humbles himself…is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus said that the true path to greatness is found in being a servant. Many of us have so
much invested in this life that we are unable to let it go and pursue the assignment that God
has for us in the next age. We live in a constant tension between weighing our assignment
in this life against our long-range assignment in the age to come. This life is just an
internship that prepares us for the age to come. Our next stage of life starts in the Millennial
Kingdom, this is our primary ministry assignment and it lasts for 1000 years. The measure to
which we develop love, meekness and relationship with God during our lives now determines
our positions and functions in His government in the life to come (Matt 7:14; 19:30; 20:16,
26-27; 22:14; Luke 13:24).
The calling to greatness is issued to every human being. It is in the potential destiny of each
individual to reign with Christ. We must do it God’s way; we must become humble servants
in this life and look forward to reigning with Christ in the next.

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1. Do you want to be great in God’s sight? Do you want to be wealthy eternally? Are you
    willing to forgo greatness in this life in order to receive it in eternity?
2. Ask God to reveal to you where pursuing greatness has prevented you from living as a
    servant of others, in humility. Confess as necessary.
3. Ask God to give you the desire and strength to live this life with an eternal focus.