Westside Church of Christ

Average. Mediocre. So-so. Do any of those describe our lives as Christians? Are we content with barely getting by? If so, then we have lost sight of God’s gift for us. He gave His unique Son, and we give back leftovers? Jesus did not offer a fistful of dollars. He gave up equality with God, His home in glory and took on a human existence. He was rejected, humiliated, beaten and crucified. He did that for us.

Jesus showed us. He demonstrated the way of greatness and encouraged others to follow His example. He defined it in terms that stand in stark contrast to the world’s concept (Matthew 20:20-28). After a brief conversation pertaining to the desire for prominence on the part of a couple of apostles (Yes, they needed a bit of straightening out, too), He stated it clearly. It wasn’t exactly what we might expect.

Culture sees success as being in control and dominating as many people as possible. Perhaps, amassing a fortune in the process is a sign of reaching the top rung of the ladder. Importing that idea into our lives guarantees that we will never achieve greatness in the Lord’s eyes. That is just the opposite. It is not about being served and receiving. No, it’s serving and sacrificing.

The Son of God came as a servant. He washed feet. He provided food for the masses. He brought God’s precious gift of salvation at an extraordinary personal cost. He served and gave before He ever asked anyone else to do the same. He showed us then He taught us. If we want to be first, step to the end of the line. The Lord of the universe humbled Himself. Will we?

It isn’t easy. It takes faith in the one who gave us the perfect example. In resisting the notion that the Old Testament Law was the way of salvation, Paul offers an alternative: Faith working through love (Galatians 5:6). Our society has such a distorted view of both faith and love that it is easy to lose our way in the jungle of misconceptions. The word of God straightens out that which is crooked.

Through love, serve one another (Galatians 5:13). Faith loves and love serves. It is the mountaintop. It is the giving of ourselves in service to others, and that is the means by which we are more blessed (Acts 20:35). The apostle remembered the words of the Lord and lived by them. Do we?

The world has turned beautiful concepts on their heads. Greatness is seen as dominance, being served and accumulating material blessings. Love is mixed up with lust. Scripture turns them right-side up again. The Lord’s people pursue ways to love, serve and sacrifice. We follow His example. That’s our way up for the only eyes that really matter.

Call to Praise: Acts 16:1-5

His word on it: 1 Corinthians 4:17

Sermon: “One of a Kind”