This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Cross Examined: Who is the Greatest? (LISTEN HERE)
Have you ever been in a social situation where the conversation inevitably comes to the question, “What do you do?”
As soon as this question is asked, our mind can momentarily divert to thinking, “Is what I do going to sound impressive enough to this person?”
Subconsciously in our society there may be some occupations that are viewed as “less than” others. Perhaps some are more “starter jobs” and others may project you have reached the top of your career ladder.
In our culture (maybe just in my German background) we put a lot of value in what we do, what we can produce, etc. For what we do carries our status.
Even if something is not your ambition (i.e. president of the United States), it is perceived as a high status (“Leader of the Free World”). A manager has higher “status” than a team member. A supervisor has greater status than a manager and so one. Our corporate structures, for organization and clarity of who is in charge, organize around status.
And so we can believe that our occupational status is what determines greatness.
Not so with you.
In Jesus’ discussion with James and John and their mom, he reminded them that the world around works on status, but not his followers:
Matthew 20:25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
A ruler had status. A high official had status. That’s what James and John, and honestly the rest of the disciples, wanted.
But Jesus said greatness comes from the status of being a servant or slave. The lowest status on the world’s greatness scale is the status that has the highest status in the kingdom of God.
When the topic came up again on the night before Jesus died, Jesus added this:
Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus reminded his disciples not only that greatness was found in being a servant, but greatness was found in being a child of God and invited at the “table in my kingdom.” Jesus promises his followers that their servitude in his kingdom would be recognized. He assured them they “had a seat at the table.” He would give them a special task to accomplish.
This is a great reminder for us.
We may achieve some status in our career, but the status that gives us greatness is being part of God’s kingdom by faith. He has given us eternal status as a child of God.
This is what makes your great…no matter what your vocation is.
Apply: How much does status matter to you? What changes when you remember you have been given as a gift of grace the greatest status one could ever have?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me a seat at the table in the kingdom of heaven. Help me to never underestimate or devalue the status you have given me as your child and heir of eternal life. AMEN.