Do you think that the apostles ever decided who was the greatest among them? The topic came up more than once. Does that surprise you? No one ever liked the answer that Jesus gave, “the greatest is the servant of all or you must become as a child.” Add to that the story of the widow’s mites and Paul’s declaration of “forgetting what lies behind while pressing on to what lies ahead.”
I get the feeling God doesn’t care who was greatest in 1995 or 2006 unless that person or persons has “pressed on in the kingdom.” We are really poor at deciding what is truly great in God’s kingdom. In this congregation, it may have been the encouragement that Louise Blake, Merry Rollins, or Lucille Henderson generated by walking strong in the faith, even in the face immense pain and suffering. Or, it may have been A.J. being willing to cry with Jacob when he hurt his toe.
What is the greatest moment you have had in God’s kingdom? I’ll bet it is different than God’s choice. The trouble is that our best efforts may have been one or even twenty years ago. If so, we need to forget about yesterday and find what we might do today. Have you ever thought of encouraging Austin Price or Leroy McIntosh or Phil Carland? God may truly surprise us with the opportunities open to us if we are willing to consider His ways. Surprise someone like Sam Pratt or Sam Edney by encouraging them in their walk with God.
May the Lord bless you,
Finis