Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 9:30-41

Text: (Jesus) sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Greatness is not found in salary, position or pedigree. Nor is it found in gender, skin tone, Zip Code or diploma. Those things may be signs of greatness as “the world” measures greatness but not in the Kingdom’s measure.

Jesus overheard the disciples measuring their own greatness against one another. He told them that greatness, true Kingdom greatness, is found in service; more specifically, in serving one another.

The only competition that Jesus’ followers participate in is “out-serveing one another and God’s world.

And come to think of it, doesn’t the world give accolades to those who unselfishly serve the least, the  last and the lost?

Lord, let me not get caught up in the world’s definition of greatness. Lead me in humble serve to others. Amen.