The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: Matthew 20:20-28

“Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”
Matthew 20:26

The Secret of Greatness

Mrs. Zebedee, a lady of our Lord’s day, had two sons, James and John. Like many other mothers, she had high ambitions for her sons. She wanted them to occupy positions of distinction without having to work or sacrifice to attain them. Hence, she one day boldly asked our Lord to give places of preference to her sons.
When the disciples learned of this, they in real human fashion became irritated and jealous. Jesus noted their excitement and quickly put them at ease. He said, “whoever would be among you must be your servant.”
Jesus is the greatest character in history, with a name that is above every name, because He did infinitely more for the human family than any other person. He fulfilled God’s Holy Law for us. He saved us from our sins by suffering and dying on the cross in our stead. He fully earned His place at the right hand of God, the Father.
We cannot inherit true greatness, buy it, or attain it through the influence of other people. The principle “whoever would be great among you must be your servant” applies in every area of life.

Dear Lord God, for Jesus’ sake, endow us with a rich measure of love toward You and toward fellow people so that we might live lives of service. Amen.

July 01, 1959