Bible League: Living His Word “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”— Mark 10:45 ESV James and John, two of Jesus’ disciples, came to Him with a request, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mark 10:37). When the other 10 disciples heard about the request, they became indignant. Jesus responded to all 12 of them by teaching them what might be called the “principle of servitude.” It’s the idea that authority in the kingdom of God is all about service. He also taught them, as our verse for today makes clear, that the principle applied to Himself just as much as to anyone else in the kingdom. The principle of servitude means that things in the kingdom of God are not like things in any of the kingdoms of men. In the kingdoms of men, those in positions of high authority are served hand and foot by those beneath them. In the kingdom of God, on the other hand, “whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44). In order to illustrate the principle, Jesus even washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-20). Further, the principle of servitude means that anyone who wants a position of high authority in the Kingdom of God must be ready and able, as Jesus put it, to “drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mark 10:38). They must be ready to serve despite any adversity that comes because of their authority. As was the case for Jesus, those in authority in the kingdom of God are targets for persecution. The principle of servitude includes the willingness to serve despite adversity all the way up to giving one’s life for others. That is what Jesus did. Even though He was equal to God, He “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). The point is, anyone who wants to be great in the kingdom of God must take into account the principle of servitude and all that it implies. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 13-16 2 Chronicles 13 -- Abijah succeeds Rehoboam; Civil War against Jeroboam NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 14 -- Asa Becomes King of Judah, Destroys Idolatry NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 15 -- Azariah Warns Asa; Asa's Reforms NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 16 -- Asa diverts Baasha from Building Ramah, Imprisons Hanani the Prophet NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 14 John 14 -- Jesus Comforts His Disciples; "I am the way, the truth, and the life"; The Promise of the Holy Spirit NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!Insight Repeating the same words over and over like a magic incantation is no way to ensure that God will hear your prayer. It's not wrong to come to God many times with the same requests—Jesus encourages persistent prayer. But he condemns the shallow repetition of words that are not offered with a sincere heart. Challenge We can never pray too much if our prayers are honest and sincere. Before you start to pray, make sure you mean what you say. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Titus 3:4 The kindness and love of God our Saviour.How sweet it is to behold the Saviour communing with his own beloved people! There can be nothing more delightful than, by the Divine Spirit, to be led into this fertile field of delight. Let the mind for an instant consider the history of the Redeemer's love, and a thousand enchanting acts of affection will suggest themselves, all of which have had for their design the weaving of the heart into Christ, and the intertwisting of the thoughts and emotions of the renewed soul with the mind of Jesus. When we meditate upon this amazing love, and behold the all-glorious Kinsman of the Church endowing her with all his ancient wealth, our souls may well faint for joy. Who is he that can endure such a weight of love? That partial sense of it which the Holy Spirit is sometimes pleased to afford, is more than the soul can contain; how transporting must be a complete view of it! When the soul shall have understanding to discern all the Saviour's gifts, wisdom wherewith to estimate them, and time in which to meditate upon them, such as the world to come will afford us, we shall then commune with Jesus in a nearer manner than at present. But who can imagine the sweetness of such fellowship? It must be one of the things which have not entered into the heart of man, but which God hath prepared for them that love him. Oh, to burst open the door of our Joseph's granaries, and see the plenty which he hath stored up for us! This will overwhelm us with love. By faith we see, as in a glass darkly, the reflected image of his unbounded treasures, but when we shall actually see the heavenly things themselves, with our own eyes, how deep will be the stream of fellowship in which our soul shall bathe itself! Till then our loudest sonnets shall be reserved for our loving benefactor, Jesus Christ our Lord, whose love to us is wonderful, passing the love of women. Daily Light on the Daily Path Haggai 2:9 'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and in this place I will give peace,' declares the LORD of hosts."1 Chronicles 22:5 David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it." So David made ample preparations before his death. 2 Chronicles 7:2 The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD'S house. John 2:19,21 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." • But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 2 Corinthians 3:10 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Hebrews 1:1,2 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, • in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
    |