For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:5)
God has created every person with the potential to be great through Him, but the measure of one’s greatness is often compared to others. Over the last decade, I have observed the rise and fall of many popular names in sports, entertainment, politics, and the Christian community. These persons were seen as ideal role models. In many respects, they were standard-bearers for those who were looking for a better life for themselves and their families. However, greatness pursued has yet to be grasped. There are still those who are hurting and suffering from injustice by the dominant culture. Families are becoming more individualistic than community-focused as distrust and divisive rhetoric become more embedded in our communities’ fabric. Even as this year 2021 launches, the echoes of 2020 can still be heard. Lives can still be easily led astray without the assurance of divine leadership. The need for our daily guidance remains our greatest concern. King Solomon understood that the potential for greatness in us could not be experienced without the Lord’s help (1 Kings 3:9). He asked, So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and distinguish between right and wrong. For who can govern this great people of yours?” Solomon knew that his position was not what would make him great. The Christian author William Arthur Ward once said, “Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.”
As we begin setting goals through 2021, leave room for God to disrupt and shape our plans to His great plan. As we look out at the mounting challenges we must face to raise our children and meet our families’ needs; we can become overwhelmed. Yet, deep within us, there is someone greater than the challenges of this world. True greatness comes from the LORD (Psalm 145:3) and His presence in us (1 John 4:4). There is a call to greatness that calls us to rise from the ashes and mediocrity to live truly. Therefore we must not lose focus and fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith. We must not be conformed to the patterns of this world as the godless and power-hungry rulers who need to be over people for a sense of power and greatness. True greatness is serving others (Mark 10:43). Therefore, as we examine ourselves and those leading us we should see the distinguishing marks of true greatness; doing the will of the Father and helping many people. It is heartbreaking to see the preaching of another gospel in our current public discourse by Christian leaders when our world needs to experience the true gospel message heard and seen by God’s people. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed an increasing lack of common good and goodwill toward one another. The results are proving to be more damaging to the hearts and homes than all previous world wars. In servant leadership influence and intimidation are not synonymous, but one is by choice while the latter is by force. Many of us may doubt whether or not we can make a difference, but doing so is to deny the power and potential living inside of us. As we walk by faith empowered by God’s presence we are destined to do greater works (John 14:12). True greatness is maximizing God’s-given power and potential place inside to glorify God and for others’ good. To live with great assurance that our labors, our worship, and our witness to others near and far are not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor 15:58). The Lord’s great work in us and around us changes things (Psalm 71:19-21). You are already great. You are a child of the living God through Christ Jesus. Rise above the fray, rise above the muck and the mire and rise above mediocrity to heights beyond your comforts. True greatness is the measure of our witness, the embodiment of our living voice for God that sings of his unfathomable greatness. Be truly great for Him and through Him!
Because He lives,
Pastor Reggie Sheppard