GOD’S IDEA OF greatness is quite opposite to man’s.
In fact, the philosophy of Jesus Christ is in reverse with the world’s.
So said Reverend Davidson Bowen as he conducted the Sunday service at St Luke’s Anglican Church in Brighton, St George, recently.
As he referred to the disciples’ query to Jesus as to who was the greatest in the Kingdom, Bowen noted that “to be great in the world is to put importance on oneself”.
He said: “In the eyes of the world, you are great based on the position or title that precedes or follows your name. You may be a lawyer, an engineer, a doctor, and that makes you great according to the world’s standard. [However], the world’s value system runs dramatically opposite to the system of God.”
He added that because of this world’s value system, worldly pride demanded that one entered this system before one could be accepted, applauded and respected.
“The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world [1 John 2:16],” the cleric said.
He shared with parishioners four steps that take people to greatness in the Kingdom of God. These were service in the Kingdom, humility, total obedience to God’s commandments and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
“Whoever relaxes one of the least of [God’s] commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
“Total obedience is being wise in God’s sight and gives us an assurance of his abundant blessings.”
He said the fruit of the Holy Spirit was love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
“Against such things there is no law,” he told congregants.
“God’s Kingdom is an entirely different world controlled by His great Spirit. When the Lord prayed ‘thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’, He is actually saying that the value system of the will of this Kingdom is already in effect in Heaven, and He wants this rule to be present in this world also. It can only be done when there are people who are willing to come out of this world’s system, and accept and submit themselves to the value system of this Kingdom which is God’s Kingdom. He sits there as King and ruler over His people.”
Bowen concluded: “That’s the same challenge you face today. Today might be your day to achieve greatness. Are you ready to try?
“Let us strive for greatness today [according to God’s value system].”
• Requests to have your church featured in Altar Call can be made by emailing cherylharewood@nationnews.com
