I went to the "praise and worship" portion of a church on Sunday. After we had sung "God of Wonders" (one of my all time favorites, by the way), the worship leader spoke these words that have been on my mind ever since. He said that the Bible speaks of God as the most great, or greater. He went on to say that this statement is limited to our own puny knowledge or perception of what greatness is. We will always strive to make God controllable. God is greater than our circumtances, greater than our abilities, greater than money, greater than fame, and the list could go on and on.
So what is greatness in our eyes? Greatness in American culture has been reduced to being able to act, sing, play a sport well or build a business. Even a couple of the disciples had an argument over what greatness was as Luke 22:24-27 records for us. "And there arose a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called benefactors. But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.'" (NASB) Jesus makes it clear here that they (and we like them) have no idea what true greatness is.
I Chronicles 29:11-13 "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honr come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name."
Luke 9:42-43a - "While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God."
Psalm 48:1 - "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain."
Psalm 96:4 "For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods."
I believe this word great comes from a root word that means to exceed. God exceeds all else. He is above - and well above - anything we can think or imagine.
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...but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:7,8)
But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men excercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mat.20:25-28)
In His humility we see just how great He is. Go away from me Lord.
Lately, Michael, Jr. has been playing over and over in my mind, "Man, I don't know nothin'".
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