+DEV+ Wanting to Be First

Date: June 11, 2015 12:31 AM

Topic: +DEV+  Wanting to Be First

Wanting to Be First

"...Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." Matthew 20:26

Scripture Focus: Mark 10:35-45

I wonder who came up with the idea to ask Jesus for a personal favor. Was it James and John, or was it their mother? All three come to Jesus, but mom does the talking. She asks for her two sons to have the seats of greatest honor next to Jesus in His coming Kingdom. You can almost see this Jewish mother taking it upon herself to secure a good future for her boys. 

Clearly, the disciples still didn't understand the nature of the Kingdom of Christ even though, just before this request, Jesus predicted His death for the third time and described to His disciples how He would be handed over to the religious leaders, then mocked and flogged and crucified. 

The desire to be first dates all the way back to the garden and it crops up in our hearts on a regular basis. Jesus reminded both the mother and her sons, "You don't know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" Jesus didn't come to serve but to be served and, according to Him, the greatest in His Kingdom is the servant of all.

Insight: Jesus takes our pride and our desire to be first and patiently turns us away from ourselves to serve others first.

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

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