Key Passage
Jesus called all the followers together. Jesus said, “The non-Jewish people have men they call rulers. You know that those rulers love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority over the people. But it should not be that way with you. If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a servant. If one of you wants to become the most important, then he must serve all of you like a slave.”
— Mark 10:42-44 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Jesus’ followers have heard a different tune than the world hears. They have a different reason to live in this world. So naturally—or should we say, supernaturally—we are to live very differently in the world. One of the places this must show up is in those in whom we place value. Our ultimate hero was a servant who washed his followers’ feet and then gave up his life for them. Shouldn’t our everyday heroes follow that same example? The greatest in Jesus’ Kingdom IS a servant. We mustn’t wait until we are in heaven to recognize this value system; we must display it in our communities today.
Prayer
O Father, help us—help me—to be quite different in what we value, honor, and hold dear. In the name of Jesus, the greatest human who ever lived, I ask this. Amen.
Related Scriptures
In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Christ himself was like God in everything. Christ was equal with God. But Christ did not think that being equal with God was something that he must keep. He gave up his place with God and agreed to be like a servant. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God. He obeyed even when that caused him to die. And he died on a cross. Christ obeyed God, so God raised Christ to the most important place. God made the name of Christ greater than every other name. God did this because he wants every person to bow for the name of Jesus. Every person in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth will bow. Every person will confess (say), “Jesus Christ is Lord (Master).” When they say this, it will bring glory to God the Father.
— Philippians 2:5-11
So brothers and sisters, I beg you to do something. God has shown us great mercy. So offer your lives as a living sacrifice to God. Your offering must be only for God and will be pleasing to him. This offering of yourselves is the spiritual way for you to worship (serve) God. Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world. But let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what things are good and pleasing to God and what things are perfect.
— Romans 12:1-2
But you are chosen people. You are the King’s priests. You are a holy nation of people. You are people who belong to God. God chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He called (brought) you out of darkness (sin) into his wonderful light. At one time you were not God’s people. But now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy. But now you have received mercy {from God}. Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers {in this world}. So I beg you to stay away from the evil things your bodies want to do. These things fight against your soul. People who don’t believe are living all around you. Those people may say that you are doing wrong. So live good lives. Then they will see the good things you do, and they will give glory to God on that day when he comes.
— 1 Peter 2:9-12
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.