Key Passage
“Many people that have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future. And the people that have the lowest place now will have the highest place in the future.”
— Mark 10:31 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
God evaluates people differently than most earthly judges, critics, and cultures do. Those who appear to be lowly, unimportant, backward, impoverished, broken, and meek will be valued as precious by God. Is it because he favors the poor and the weak over the strong and the rich? Not necessarily. However, God does cherish the person who serves others regardless of his or her station in life. He does care deeply for the person who recognized her or his need for God’s love, mercy, and grace. God does recognize the genuine humility of a person who has suffered because he or she would not compromise on integrity issues. So those who have cheated their way to the top and thereby gained fame and recognition will not be the ones God honors. No, it will be the people they stepped on who refused to give up on faith, morality, integrity, honesty, and Christian values. It will be the people who served others—even those who abused them—in the name of Christ.
Prayer
O Father, help me value others by your standards. Help me see the value of others through your eyes. Confound my intentions when I choose the wrong path and go the way of fame and fortune rather than faith and service. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Jesus saw the many people that were there. So Jesus went up on a hill and sat down. His followers came to him. Jesus taught the people. He said: “What great blessings there are for the people that {know they} have spiritual needs! The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. What great blessings there are for the people that are sad now! God will comfort them. What great blessings there are for the people that are humble! They will have the land {God promised}. What great blessings there are for the people that want to do right more than anything else ! God will fully satisfy them. What great blessings there are for the people that give mercy to other people! Mercy will be given to them.
What great blessings there are for the people that are pure in their thinking! They will be with God. What great blessings there are for the people that work to bring peace! God will call them his sons and daughters. What great blessings there are for the people that are treated badly for doing good! The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “People will say bad things against you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things against you because you follow me. But when people do those things to you, know that God will bless you. Be happy and glad. You have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did those same bad things to the prophets that lived before you.
— Matthew 5:1-12
Brothers and sisters, God called (chose) you. Think about that! And not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of the world to give shame to the wise people. God chose the weak things of the world to give shame to the strong people. And God chose what the world thinks is not important. He chose what the world hates and thinks is nothing. God chose these to destroy what the world thinks is important. God did this so that no man can boast before him.
— 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
The person that serves you like a servant is the greatest person among you.
— Matthew 23:11
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
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