The Runway to Greatness

Greetings everyone, and welcome to today's edition of

Learn and Grow with Jesus EVERYDAY. 

Today's Topic is: The Runway to Greatness

Date: Saturday, February 13, 2021.

Bible Reading: Luke 14:8-11 NIV

“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”Luke 14:8-11 NIV.

Discussion Question: What can I do to advance in life?

When I was a little child, one of the best thrills our parents gave us was trips to the local airport to watch flights take off and land. I was so amazed at how a big cylindrical metal tube full of people and luggage could take to the air so effortlessly and land gracefully at its destination.

I often wondered, “why couldn’t I fly like one of those airplanes”, but as I grew older and became wiser, I learned that not only could I fly, but I can soar in the winds like eagles, if only I continue my momentum down the runway to greatness paved with humility. I learned that humility is the springboard to elevation and greatness in life. I learned that the road to greatness is paved with humility. I learned that he who wants to ascend first starts at the base of the mountain.

Since I was born, I have never seen, or ever heard of any aircraft that took off mid-air. Ground zero is always the takeoff point, and it all begins with a gentle forward momentum down the runway from speed zero.

Until we grasp the fact that the people who achieved greatness amongst us all had two things in common on their way up – they embraced and welcomed with open hearts and open arms, the days of little beginnings in their journey, and they learned humility through the series of heart-wrenching experiences they endured, and still maintained forward momentum on their runway to greatness.

Humility is not an innate character trait, humility is learned. Jesus was asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”, and Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. Matthew 18:1-5 NIV. Pay a close attention to the sentence, “unless you change and become…”. “Change to become” implies that it is discretionary, well within your will, capability and capacity. It means you can choose to undergo a transformation, or transition to a better version of yourself, or even substitute what you have now for something greater.

Humility is a choice and Jesus underscored that fact when He said, “So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven”. Matthew 18:4 NLT. In other words, humility is not exclusive to a set of people, if you want to be the greatest, learn and practice humility.

Humility is a very powerful key, and keys have one function, they unlock doors. Humility doesn’t just unlock the doors of the hearts of men, it is one of the master keys to God’s heart. I have never seen anyone refused, who came with total humility. It is very difficult to refuse anything to a humble heart, a heart that sees itself as most undeserving and does not harbor a sense of entitlement.

One of the most profound things that God instituted by design is that He vested in others the power and authority to confer honor on you and me. If we could elevate and honor ourselves, no one would ever be lowly. Promotion does not come from the east or the west, promotion comes through service to our fellowmen, from our fellowmen. By serving others, we step onto the pedestal of honor and leadership. To be an effective and visionary leader, you must first be acquainted with the feelings and pains of the infirmities of those you lead through selfless service. You must first be decorated with the scars of deprecation and rejection from those you serve, and still, keep your cool. You must first give and apply yourself for the good of your fellow man without expecting anything in return, not even “thanks”. I have never met a true servant who does not embody humility, who is not sincerely touched by the pains and hurts of others; or is bereft of compassion.

The Bible says, “Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;  it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles”. Proverbs 25:6-7 NIV. It is therefore not our place to exalt ourselves, because everyone who does will be humbled. It is not our place to sit ourselves at the high table because doing so is asking for a public disgrace. It is not our place to crash palace parties in other to mingle with royalty, because we will be thrown out at the king’s order.

Joseph’s ascent to the premiership of Egypt was through unprecedented humility (humiliation) and selfless service. Moses was tending the livestock of his father-in-law when God met him at the Burning Bush and appointed him Leader over Israel. David was tending the sheep very far away from civilization when an urgent invitation came to him to come and be anointed, King. Esther never ever imagined that the throne was in her future but her humility and faithfulness in obscurity paved the way for her to become Queen. Elisha was plowing with his oxen in his father’s farm when God commanded Elijah to anoint him his successor as a prophet. All these people had one thing in common, they were busy serving. They relegated their own personal interest to serve the interests and purposes of others. They elevated the needs of others high above their own personal needs, ambitions, and pursuits.

Jesus was the One from whom the world learned "The Servant-Leader Concept". Jesus lived by example. He was the greatest, yet He was the one who stooped to wash the feet of His disciples. He never sinned, yet He was the One who carried the weight of the sins of the world to the cross. He was despised and rejected, yet He was the one who called us friends and laid down His life for us. The Bible says that “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man laydown his life for his friends”. John 15:13 KJV.

Dear friends, let’s follow the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let’s commit to learning and practicing humility through service. I too am greatly challenged by today’s teaching. I have a whole lot of changes and adjustments to make in my life. But I thank God for the privilege to see many of my weaknesses on this subject through the lens of the word of God. May God help us all in Jesus name, Amen.

Stay uplifted in Christ always and live cheerfully every day.

Leader Chinedu Nicholas Obodo for EXOLOM Fellowship, Maryland, USA. Find us at Exolom.com