Who Is the Greatest?
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kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards
every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a
steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.
While Lucifer counted it a thing to be grasped to be equal with God,
Christ, the Exalted One, “made Himself of no reputation, and took
upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:7, 8
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Now the cross was just before Him; and His own disciples were so
filled with self-seeking—the very principle of Satan’s kingdom—that
they could not enter into sympathy with their Lord, or even understand
Him as He spoke of His humiliation for them.
Very tenderly, yet with solemn emphasis, Jesus tried to correct the
evil. He showed what is the principle that bears sway in the kingdom
of heaven, and in what true greatness consists, as estimated by the
standard of the courts above. Those who were actuated by pride and
love of distinction were thinking of themselves, and of the rewards
they were to have, rather than how they were to render back to God
the gifts they had received. They would have no place in the kingdom
of heaven, for they were identified with the ranks of Satan.
Before honor is humility. To fill a high place before men, Heaven
chooses the worker who, like John the Baptist, takes a lowly place
before God. The most childlike disciple is the most efficient in labor
for God. The heavenly intelligences can co-operate with him who is
seeking, not to exalt self, but to save souls. He who feels most deeply
his need of divine aid will plead for it; and the Holy Spirit will give
unto him glimpses of Jesus that will strengthen and uplift the soul.
From communion with Christ he will go forth to work for those who
are perishing in their sins. He is anointed for his mission; and he
succeeds where many of the learned and intellectually wise would fail.
But when men exalt themselves, feeling that they are a necessity
for the success of God’s great plan, the Lord causes them to be set
aside. It is made evident that the Lord is not dependent upon them.
The work does not stop because of their removal from it, but goes
forward with greater power.
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It was not enough for the disciples of Jesus to be instructed as to
the nature of His kingdom. What they needed was a change of heart
that would bring them into harmony with its principles. Calling a