"True Greatness" The twelve disciples of Jesus were disputing among themselves which would be greatest.  Setting a little child by Himself, Jesus said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  For he who is least among you will be great” (Luke 9: 46-48).  This was not the only occasion where the question of greatness came up; it seemed to be on the disciples’ minds a lot.  “…The disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’  And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”  (Matthew 18: 1-4).  Even the mother of Zebedee’s sons beseeched Jesus to exalt her sons: “She said to Jesus, ‘Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left in Your kingdom.’  But Jesus answered and said, ‘You do not know what you ask.  Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’  They said to Him, ‘We are able.”  The other ten disciples were incensed against the two brothers when they heard their reply, most likely because they had the same ambition in their hearts.  Jesus then taught them a very important principle of God’s kingdom: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”  (Matthew 20: 20-28). In heaven where Jesus is King, humility and service are the hallmarks of greatness.  The Bible exhorts us to be of the same mind as Jesus who “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men…He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross”  (Philippians 2: 7-8).  God highly exalted Jesus and gave Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (verses 9-11).  The principles of God’s economy are diametrically opposed to this fallen world’s system of pride and sin.  In God’s kingdom, the only way up is down—on your knees!  God’s word declares: “Where envy and self-seeking ambition exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there” (James 3: 16).  It calls that type of wisdom earthly, sensual and demonic (vs. 15).  The Bible admonishes:  “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Phil. 2: 3).  God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).  Those who strive for the praises of men in this world already have their reward; but those who live to give God glory will have an everlasting reward in heaven.  Jesus is our reward.   Jesus said, “The last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20: 16).  It will not be surprising to see those that we have deemed “great” and “powerful” on the earth in a lower place in heaven, while the “nobodies”—the praying grandmothers and mothers and children—surround Jesus, closest to His throne.  Those who love Jesus with a pure heart will know true greatness; they will have their eternal Reward. “But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”  (Galatians 6: 14).