How can we be "great in the sight of the Lord" today? Setting the Scene from Luke 1:15 “ ‘For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.’ ” (Luke 1:15) John’s life gives a concrete picture of greatness that heaven applauds. The same qualities can shape our own walk today. Seeing Greatness Through John’s Example • Spirit-filled from the start • Separated from cultural excess (no wine or strong drink) • Focused on preparing people for the Lord (Luke 1:17) • Humble enough to say, “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Cultivating a Spirit-Filled Life • Daily surrender: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1) • Continual filling: “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) • Evident fruit: love, joy, peace… (Galatians 5:22-23) • Word saturation: letting “the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16) Choosing Consecration Over Compromise • Clear boundaries that guard the heart (Proverbs 4:23) • Refusing habits that dull spiritual alertness—John’s abstinence models this principle • Pursuing holiness: “Just as He who called you is holy, be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15) • Living as vessels “useful to the Master.” (2 Timothy 2:21) Serving the Purposes of God • Pointing others to Christ, not to ourselves • Embracing whatever assignment He gives—large or small (Luke 16:10) • Measuring success by faithfulness, not applause (1 Corinthians 4:2) • Loving sacrificially: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Mark 10:45) Walking in Humility • Remembering that greatness begins with lowliness (Matthew 23:11) • Confessing sin quickly (1 John 1:9) • Acknowledging every gift as from above (James 1:17) • Seeking God’s commendation over human praise (John 12:43) Living with Prophetic Clarity • Knowing the times, like the sons of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32) • Speaking truth with grace (Ephesians 4:15) • Calling people to repentance and hope in Jesus, just as John did (Acts 3:19) Enduring Opposition Faithfully • Accepting that righteousness invites resistance (2 Timothy 3:12) • Rejoicing when mistreated for Christ (Matthew 5:11-12) • Finishing well—“I have fought the good fight.” (2 Timothy 4:7) The Lord’s Measure of Greatness Heaven esteems lives marked by holiness, Spirit-empowered witness, humble service, and unwavering allegiance to Christ. By following John’s pattern—consecration, Spirit dependence, Christ-centered mission—we too can be “great in the sight of the Lord” today. |
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