The Greatest GiftSample

TRUE GREATNESS

“[The angel said to Mary], ‘He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High...’” –Luke 1:32

Much in our culture is about the world’s concept of greatness: who’s the greatest actor, pop singer, moneymaker; who has the greatest job? The world glorifies the rich, the famous, and the powerful. 

Now consider Jesus Christ.  He was the greatest person that walked on this earth.  Everyone who has ever been called great pales by comparison to Jesus. How can you consider great someone who was born in a manger and never achieved wealth and worldly fame?

It’s because greatness in God’s eyes has nothing to do with pomp and circumstance. True greatness in God’s sight can be surrounded by the most humble circumstances. Remember that God had shepherds, not well-known politicians or entertainers, celebrate the birth of Jesus.

If you and I go by the principles the world lives by, we’re going to be embarrassed by Jesus who had little this world calls valuable. But God is teaching us what real greatness is all about. Being great is to do what God called you to do, even though you are unknown to everyone but God.

The greatness of Jesus was initiated by a birth through the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary. This is always the pattern. God makes it so that we cannot have greatness in and through ourselves, but only as God works through us. We can achieve greatness before God as we accept humble circumstances and surrender to his will. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let’s be open to the Holy Spirit, follow his promptings, and then, let’s leave the rest to God.

This is the amazing thing about following Jesus. Every day we can do something great in God’s sight. Jesus said that even a simple glass of water given in his name will never be forgotten by God. Let’s have a great Christmas this year by following the example of Jesus our Savior.