Who is The Greatest Among You. Part [2] 08/20/2025 (Evening thought)

Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

Napoleon, Hitler, and Alexander the great were all looked up to by their underlings as being great, and yet, the records show that their history leaves much to be desired. Great conquests were made by some, and nations were subjugated in other instances, but in the books of heaven, their achievements amount to minus zero. That is because greatness apart from God amounts to nothingness, when contrasted with the wisdom that comes through God, by following the laws, and principles of His kingdom.

Conversely, whenever the revealed word of God is incorporated into the operations of any community, nation, family or individual, the inevitable results would be both spiritual, and temporal greatness. It cannot be otherwise, for the gold standard comes from the Greatest of all kings, even The Lord of the universe, who not only delineates what greatness is, but also is the embodiment of all that is written as it pertains to being great.

Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither you go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them because this is your Wisdom, and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Matthew 20:7 For what nation is there so great, who has God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Who is The Greatest Among You. Part [1] 08/19/2025 (Morning thought)

Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, what wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

It was the revealed will of God to make the nation of Israel great in the sight of the other nations, which in turn would bring honor to His name, while at the same time attracting the peoples of earth to the One and only true God. And since God’s purposes for His people, the world over have not changed with the passage of time, we who live in the 21st century are gently reminded in the Bible of what it means to be great in the sight of heaven.

According to the Scriptures, true greatness consists of several components which when interfaced with each other, produces a person or a nation of sterling character. Many of the things that are accounted as greatness in the world, are foolishness in the sight of God and Christians are cautioned to avoid conflating the two very different concepts in our minds, lest we come to wrong conclusions, and cultivate aspirations that are neither endorsed or recognized by The Lord.

According to worldly, and secular concepts, a great man, or a great nation is one that has tremendous wealth, one that wields unlimited, and apparently unchecked power, and one that has other people and nations in subservience. This is what Nebuchadnezzar gloried in when all of a sudden, the voice from heaven announced the great change in his fortunes by which he was rendered on a level playing field with animal kingdom.

Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, we are able. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!