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Sometimes in hidden things, God reminds you of his glorious presence and promises.

One of my hobbies is metal detecting. This weekend we enjoyed a family weekend with our girls on the beach in Galveston.  They like to sleep in.  I like to get up and go metal detecting on the beach.

Most finds are coins, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies along with scraps of aluminum, bottle caps and pull tabs. But once in awhile you find something interesting, unique and perhaps even valuable.

What made this weekend unique was a series of finds that reminded me of God’s promises.  Jesus said in Mark 4:21 “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 

Jesus spoke these words regarding his use of parables, but like parables bring hidden truths to light, so that which was hidden in the sand brought the promises of God to light.

Friday find: An Angel charm.  Whether from a necklace or charm bracelet, the little angel was a great reminder of this promise: Psalm 91:11-12 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  

Saturday find: A gold plated crown ring with gems (probably not diamonds).  This was an exciting find as the glimmer of gold appeared in the scoop of sand. What a great reminder of how much more exciting will it be when the crown of life is placed on our head as a gift of God’s grace. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Sunday find: A crucifix pendant from a necklace (or perhaps a set of rosary beads).  The crown we receive only comes through the sacrifice Christ made on the cross.  He wore the crown of thorns so we might wear the crown of life!  The only reason we have the ability to look forward to the glorious crown is because of the gory cross that Christ endured.  Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

What maybe added to the irony/significance of this series of finds was the hole I dug after finding the cross wasn’t a strong signal, but I decided to dig it.  What was in the hole: a bottle cap.  Of the hundreds of beverages that have a metal screw off cap, this one said “Mike’s” (yes…an alcoholic drink – but that’s not the point!)  It was like the message from the Lord was this.

The angels, the crown of life and the cross…all of it was for me.  It is Mike’s.

These hidden treasures reminded me of God’s amazing grace and goodness.  Never before have I found three significant finds that connect to the promises of God.  The bottle cap with my name on it made it very personal.

Perhaps there is more God wants me to take away from him making these hidden things visible.

But I know what is concealed will be brought to the open.

I trust he will do the same for you.

 

Apply:  Which of these finds/promises resonates most with you. Why?

Prayer: Lord, you love to make that which is hidden revealed.  Open my eyes and heart to see the glorious promises of your truth so that none remain hidden.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Cross Examined: Who is the Greatest? (LISTEN HERE)

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Greatness comes with practice.

If you look at those that are labeled as the “GOAT” in their field, you see behind their exceptional performance is a regime of discipline and practice that hones their skills to be the best they can be.  A Michael Jordan or Caitlin Clark don’t just show up one day on the professional court and expect to compete.  Hours of time in the gym coupled with nutrition, training and more lead to them being exceptional on the basketball court.

It is true that we are given the status of “great” by our heavenly Father as a gift of grace.  So let’s make every effort to grow into and develop that status.

We’ve talked about the attitude of humility and the actions of service, but what might that look like on a daily basis that will develop the greatness of the faith and person God has made us to be. 

The Apostle Paul said this:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Fill your mind with the things of God.

Even on the basketball court, the mental game is the one you have to win first.  If you are not mentally focused, your game will be off and your opponent will get in your head.  The same is true of our Christian life.  If our minds are not being filled and transformed by the Spirit of God and the power of his Word, Satan is going to get into our head.  Instead of things that are true, lovely and admirable, our minds will believe lies, focus on dark and unworthy things.  Greatness comes when our minds are filled with the things of God.  So make it a daily habit to fill your mind with the Word of God.  

Put your faith into practice.

Knowing something and doing something are two different things.  I can know how to make a layup, but miss them every time.  My knowledge must be practiced to perfect the activity.  So it is with our Christian life as well.  We know that the Spirit produces fruit when he works in us.  Paul summarized it this way in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

All of these takes practice.  So pick one that perhaps challenges you most.  Ask God for opportunities to practice it each day.  Perhaps it’s noticing a person at work or school or at home that needs a little of your time to listen and understand.  Practice kindness.  Perhaps you have been cut off on your way home from work or feel attacked by your spouse.  Practice gentleness and self-control.  Perhaps you have a situation that is worrying you and causing you anxiety.  Practice living in the peace God gives. Put your faith into practice.

Be a person of prayer.

Our heavenly Father loves to know our challenges and successes of our faith life.  Take time each day to present your requests to him.  Ask him to mold your mind and guide your actions into the greatness he has planned for you that day.  Ask him to keep you unattached from any reward or return, but just to enjoy living out the heart and mind of God he has given to you.

Enjoy being great today!

 

Apply: Which thing from this week’s devotions is on your mind to, with God’s help, work on as  you live out God-given greatness?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching me what greatness really is. Spirit of God, fill me each day with all the things my mind needs to walk in step with you.  Guide me to the opportunities to live out greatness today. AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Cross Examined: Who is the Greatest? (LISTEN HERE)

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Have you ever been in a social situation where the conversation inevitably comes to the question, “What do you do?”

As soon as this question is asked, our mind can momentarily divert to thinking, “Is what I do going to sound impressive enough to this person?”

Subconsciously in our society there may be some occupations that are viewed as “less than” others.  Perhaps some are more “starter jobs” and others may project you have reached the top of your career ladder.

In our culture (maybe just in my German background) we put a lot of value in what we do, what we can produce, etc.  For what we do carries our status.

Even if something is not your ambition (i.e. president of the United States), it is perceived as a high status (“Leader of the Free World”).  A manager has higher “status” than a team member.  A supervisor has greater status than a manager and so one.  Our corporate structures, for organization and clarity of who is in charge, organize around status.

And so we can believe that our occupational status is what determines greatness.

Not so with you.

In Jesus’ discussion with James and John and their mom, he reminded them that the world around works on status, but not his followers:

Matthew 20:25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

A ruler had status.  A high official had status.  That’s what James and John, and honestly the rest of the disciples, wanted.

But Jesus said greatness comes from the status of being a servant or slave.  The lowest status on the world’s greatness scale is the status that has the highest status in the kingdom of God.

When the topic came up again on the night before Jesus died, Jesus added this:

Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Jesus reminded his disciples not only that greatness was found in being a servant, but greatness was found in being a child of God and invited at the “table in my kingdom.”  Jesus promises his followers that their servitude in his kingdom would be recognized.  He assured them they “had a seat at the table.”  He would give them a special task to accomplish.

This is a great reminder for us.

We may achieve some status in our career, but the status that gives us greatness is being part of God’s kingdom by faith.  He has given us eternal status as a child of God.

This is what makes your great…no matter what your vocation is.

 

Apply: How much does status matter to you?  What changes when you remember you have been given as a gift of grace the greatest status one could ever have?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me a seat at the table in the kingdom of heaven.  Help me to never underestimate or devalue the status you have given me as your child and heir of eternal life.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Cross Examined: Who is the Greatest? (LISTEN HERE)

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An attitude of humility leads to actions of service.

Back to Jesus’ response to the disciples arguing about who is the greatest and he responds:

Luke 22:26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Jesus lays out the common paradigm.  If you are seated at the table eating, you have greater status than the people preparing and serving the meal.  Servitude in most if not all cultures is seen as a “lesser” status than being served.  Greatness is often measured by the number of servants one has or how many workers you have doing things for you.

But Jesus again changes the paradigm.  None of his disciples would argue that Jesus wasn’t great.  However, Jesus says, “I am among you as one who serves.”

God himself, the one who deserves the whole world to serve him instead decides that he is going to serve the whole world.

Greatness in God’s kingdom would be defined by serving others.  This was not a new concept for the disciples as Jesus had to teach them on another occasion where James and John got their mother involved to get them prominent positions of power in Jesus kingdom.  Here’s how that went:

Matthew 20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 

21 “What is it you want?” he asked. 

She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” 

“We can,” they answered. 

23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

One could excuse a proud mother from asking on behalf of her boys, but we can’t excuse an attitude of pride that is unwilling to serve others.

It wasn’t just James and John, but the group of disciples were indignant with them, probably because they were mad they asked for these positions before them.

Jesus doesn’t let it stand, but rather again changes the paradigm for them and us.

Greatness comes through service.  Jesus came to serve and gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.  As he has served us, we now get to be the servants of others.  We begin to see people around us as opportunities to serve instead of opportunities to be served.  We begin to see our greatness in life comes through the people we help and assist.  We are reflecting the love of Christ when we share that love with others.

Serving others.  It’s just what great people do!

 

Apply: Look for opportunities today to serve others…even if it is inconvenient!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for my pride that seeks to be served instead of serve others.  As you have served me, empower and lead me to serve others today and always.  AMEN

This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Cross Examined: Who is the Greatest? (LISTEN HERE)

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Greatness starts with attitude.

Luke 22:24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 

Many would equate greatness with having an attitude of pride and arrogance.  Great people often were seen as the ones with power and prestige.  Greatness was determined by how much recognition and accolades you would receive.

Jesus turns the tables.  “But you are not to be like that.”

“Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,…”

So what does greatness and “young’ness” have to do with each other?  Let’s look at another time the topic of greatness came up.

Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 

2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

It’s not the age, it’s the attitude.

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Humility is hard because it stands opposed to the natural ego and pride that our sinful nature like to feed.  Pride is fed when we feel we know it all, have all the answers and people need us more than we need them.  Pride convinces us we are the greatest and deserve others service.  Pride leads us to think we are better and more deserving than another.

“Not so with you,” Jesus would say.

Jesus changes the paradigm to teach us that humility is the sign of greatness, not pride.

So what does that mean?  Since Jesus uses a child as an example, what are the characteristics of humility a child more naturally exhibits?

Trust.  A child is trusting of their parents.  Humility admits I need to rely on someone else.  For the Christian we rely on, we trust in Jesus more than ourselves.

Curiosity.  A child is always learning.  Children want to know and want to learn.  They don’t presume to know everything, but seek information and understanding.  Humility understands I don’t know everything and don’t always have the information.  Humility allows me to continue to learn and grow from my Savior and others around me.

Guidance. A child needs direction.  They need instruction, correction, rebuke.  Sure they don’t always like it, but they need it.  Humility recognizes I need guidance and direction and yes at times correction and rebuke.

Put others first.  A child is to respect others.  Children are often taught to respect other children and adults.  They recognize they live in a society with people around them and they are not the center of attention all the time.  Humility puts others first, recognizing the world does not revolve around me.

Are children perfect at this? No.  But some of the characteristics of children reflect that attitude of humility that Jesus promotes as the key to greatness.  However, we would be remiss to not speak of the ultimate example and reflection of humility that we get the chance to learn from, our Savior Jesus.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross! 

This is greatness!  This is humility!

 

Apply: Where does pride show up in your life?  How can you learn from Jesus and little children a stronger attitude of humility?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for humbling yourself to serve us.  Forgive us for our arrogant pride and fill us with an attitude of humility so that we might be great in your kingdom.  AMEN.