Greatness

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

We don’t have to be “great” in order to be used by God.

As humans, I feel as though there is an unspoken pressure to be GREAT. The best looking, the most popular, or the most put together.  We put so much pressure on OURSELVES to be these kinds of people that God never intended for us to be. God created us to be in fellowship with Him, and has given each one of us gifts and talents that will help accomplish His purposes for the kingdom of God, but not one of those gifts and talents are “greatness”. 

As I was reading Hebrews 11, and reading about the great examples of faith such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Moses, it wasn’t their greatness that led them to seeing God’s promises fulfilled, it was God working through their faith in Him. Every time someone was mentioned, the verse began with “By faith”, and then went on to say what was accomplished through their faith in God.

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

I think of the disciples as well. Ordinary men with their own baggage, problems, and sins. Chosen to be the closest people to Jesus Christ here on Earth; His greatest friends. Not because of who they were, but because of what God wanted to accomplish through them.

God can do much with us, not because of our greatness, but because of our faith. God sent His only son to die on the cross so that we could have eternal life through Him. Our faith in the creator of the heavens and earth can do much more than any greatness we think we can muster up on our own. Any “greatness” in us is just the Holy Spirit working through us. 

 

Written by Catey Stover: Catey Stover serves in Marketing at America’s Keswick. She loves the Lord and has a heart for serving others, especially the next generation. You can write to Catey at cstover@americaskeswick.org


Think About This: “Christ to the thief: Come with me. We die together, a thief and the Maker of the world. Walk with the Infinite made flesh into the belly of the whale. Stand close while reality quakes. Watch while Death is taken by the throat. Today you will be with me in Paradise. Stories don’t end at death.” – N.D. Wilson

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 11-12; Matthew 18:21-35| You can download our 2022 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

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