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Today's Word: Feb 01, 2023
When Jesus was about to be crucified, Judas came with a group of soldiers to arrest Him. When Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, should we fight?" He told them to not resist. He was saying, "This is part of My plan. I can't reach My destiny without this betrayal, without being unjustly tried, and without being crucified."
When we face hardships, bad breaks, and disappointments, it seems like the enemy is in control. We want to fight, resist, and get upset, but God is saying, "Don't resist anymore. Don't fight it, don't live bitter, and don't try to get even. I'm still directing your steps." Yes, resist the sickness, resist the addiction, but don't live upset. God didn't stop what was unfair because it's leading you to your destiny. You don't know what God is up to. You can't see that on the other side of that crucifixion is a resurrection. On the other side of the betrayal, the sickness, or the disappointment is a new level of your destiny. Stop resisting and start trusting.
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As you look back on your life, what would you say has brought you the most joy, happiness, and fulfillment? Think about it for a while. A few years ago I was talking with a very successful businessman who told me what he found most fulfilling. You might think he would list all his achievements, but instead he said, "It's that I've been able to use my position, wealth, and influence to help other people." The smile on his face matched the joyful story of how his company had been used to sow seeds of blessings into so many people's lives.
He could smile because he had fulfilled the God-given desire that's inside each of us to succeed and to achieve in life. It started when He told Adam, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion..." (Genesis 1:28). But it's a mistake to think that achievement and success are what cause us to be great in the kingdom of God or what will bring us fulfillment and happiness. I believe that God wants us to accomplish great things, but He wants us to do it with the right heart. Jesus' concept of greatness in those who follow Him is found in serving others, and it's the standard He set: "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" (Matthew 20:28).
It can be hard to wrap our head around servanthood and a great life. Our culture doesn't teach us that servanthood is the key to success. What we see is people manipulating others, stepping over people, and doing things to try to gain more authority and power. But Jesus gave us the ultimate example of greatness at the Last Supper on the evening before His betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. When He overheard some of the disciples disputing among themselves about who was the greatest, He reminded them that He was among them "as one who serves" (Luke 22:27). Then in John 13, to show His disciples the meaning of greatness, He knelt down and washed their feet. The message He wanted them to understand before He left this earth was that service is the greatest thing in the kingdom of God.
When we reflect back on our life, we want to see a life of greatness, a life well lived. God wants you in a strategic place because He wants you to make a difference in this world, but He also wants you to know that it's through your service, it's through your giving, it's through stooping down when it's not convenient and washing other people's feet that you will be made great. Let your life shine in greatness!
If you suffer from approval addiction, if you’re not confident in who you are and you need people to validate you, you’ll always shrink back and let them control your future. But for what God has for you, it’s going to take boldness. He’s going to take you where no one in your family has gone. You’re going to be a pioneer, a trend-setter.
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