What Jesus Did! 'Striving for Greatness' — Matthew 18:1

Monday, August 18, 2025

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
— Matthew 18:1 NLT

Key Thought

In our dreams as children, we are the greatest. In our professions, we may entertain illusions of our greatness. Even when we approach what is greatness in the eyes of others, we know that we have not arrived and we may dream of even greater things to do and greater heights to climb.

The longing for greatness is a strong motivator. But Jesus said that greatness, like life and so many other things, cannot be obtained by seeking what we desire. Instead, greatness is given when we follow Jesus and choose to live as servants!

Today's Prayer

Almighty Father, give me the wisdom to value people by Jesus' standard of greatness and not the standard of those who do not know Christ and his sacrifice. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Whose Life Is It?
Article by Russ Lawson
Do you see yourself in the story? We can know we are saved by putting ourselves in the story of God's great deliverance.
Breathtaking!
Article by Phil Ware
For God so loved us that he came to our world as a child. Phil Ware reminds us of the divine titles for Jesus in Matthew 1 and then drives home the point that this divine Christ, Messiah, Son of God, Immanuel, God with us, came to us as the child, Jesus.
Immanuel: In Spiritual Family
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved, I began yesterday to share with you the four Immanuel passages in the book of Matthew. Recall that Immanuel is the name given to Me in...."

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 18:1 NLT — About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, August 18, 2025

Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'God's Amazing Plan' (Acts 13:16, 24-31)
"So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet [the people in the synagogue], and started speaking. "Men of Israel," he said, "and you God-fearing Gentiles,...."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Don't Be Led in the Wrong Way' (1 Jn. 3:7-8)
"Dear children, do not let anyone lead you the wrong way. Christ is righteous. So to be like Christ a person must do what is right. The devil has been...."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Hebrews 11:1
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Through the Spirit' (He. 9:15)
"Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!