(Mark
10:35-45) James and John, the two sons
of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us
whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for
you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on
Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you
are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with
the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And
Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be
baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 But to sit on My right
or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has
been prepared.”
41 Hearing
this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42 Calling them to
Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers
of the Gentiles lord it over them;
and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great
among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be
first among you shall be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
His life a ransom for many.”
(Luke
22:24-30) And there arose also a dispute
among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said
to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have
authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 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. 27 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.
28 “You
are those who have stood by Me in My trials; 29 and just as My Father has
granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in
My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
(John
13:12-17) So when He had washed their
feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them,
“Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you
are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your
feet, you also ought to wash one
another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I
did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his
master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you
know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
(Matthew
20:16) “So the last shall be first, and the first last.”
(Mark
9:35) Sitting down, He called the twelve
and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Reminder:
"praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He
may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like,
or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will: that we should not lord any position
over anyone, but serve God and each other (Mt.19:30, 20:16, 25-27, Mk.9:35, 10:42-45,
Lk.13:30, 22:25-27, Jn.13::14)
Today's prayer:
Dear
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for humbling Yourself and sacrificing Yourself as
You did - in order to make salvation possible; and for living out God’s will in flesh - being
the perfect example for us to follow.
How easily we think we can take Your place. May we always put You first in our lives, and
look to You for our strength and guidance in order to humbly serve You and
others. Amen.
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