The Heart of Christian Ministry
- Shawna Jones
- Dec 26, 2023
- 2 min read
(12/22/23)
(42) "And Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. (43) But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, (44) and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. (45) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.-”
What does it mean to be "great" in God's Kingdom and what's at the heart of true impact? Are greatness and high standing reserved only for the passionate street preachers, those with big platforms, or those who can stand in front of crowds and preach the Word with great authority? While all of these things are good, what should our focus when approaching impact and ministry truly be?
As I meditated on Jesus' words here, I came to realize that my view of Christian ministry was way off from what it was supposed to be. I had fallen in love with the idea of being seen while using the talents and gifts God has given me to build a name for myself in the Kingdom work. Although I knew that the goal of ministry was to glorify Jesus, my heart was set on the impact that I could make and the skills that I could bring to the table. My desire was for big platforms and leading roles and self-focus replaced the desire to lead people to Christ.
However, this is in direct contradiction to what Jesus wants from His followers. In Mark 10:35-45, the disciples James and John approached Jesus with the request to have the two highest positions of authority, status, and honor following that of Jesus's position in the Kingdom of God. Although they weren't promised the request, Jesus used the situation to teach his disciples an important lesson on what greatness truly is in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus reveals that those who would be considered truly great wouldn't be those who only hold high positions of authority and honor. Rather, the great would be those who devote themselves to serving. In saying this, Jesus flips the world's idea of greatness and influence on its head. If you want to truly be great and honored in God's Kingdom, then you must humble yourself and live a life of servanthood. True leadership is following Jesus' example in living for the benefit of others in full devotion to God and love for people.
God, make me like Jesus. Give me the heart to serve and not think that greatness comes from only having a big platform and worldwide ministry. Help me to serve those around me as Jesus served me. Thank You for all that You do for me.
In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.
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