Serving others is what God requires from us. These individuals decided to serve others by cleaning the beaches and preparing a clean area for them to come. God requires us to serve others so that they too can have a "cleansing" that only comes from him.
"What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Matthew 20:21-28
Take My Life. This Life is not for My Glory. I was listening to a song this morning as I was preparing the web site for the week and asking God what should we study. The song is titled, Take My Life. I hadn't heard the song in a while, but just like the first time I heard it, I began to praise God and seek his Holiness.
In this scripture today, we see two of Jesus' disciples seeking to have a place of honor when Jesus comes into his kingdom. This mother may have thought what she was seeking was a good thing. She wanted her sons to be powerful, influential and mighty. What parent does not want their children to have success in life?
We also see Jesus' other disciples become angry at this request. Now do not think they were angry because of the request being wrong, they were probably angry because each had their own idea of being great in the kingdom of God. Sometimes we become angry at what others ask for, not because we think it's wrong, but we feel we somehow will be left out.
Jesus however being the concerned leader, takes them aside and explains something important to them. He lets them know that whomever wishes to be first can only do so by giving up their lives. Jesus did not come to be served as they thought on a thrown directing subjects to do his bidding. Instead he came to give himself, to pour out his life for the glory of God.
This is the mandate for all believers today. This life is not about your glory. This life is not about what you will accomplish to glorify your name or position. It is not about what power you will have. It is not about what influence you will have nor is about your success. This life is for you and I to give it over into the hands of God so that he can pour us out for his use.
We have become comfortable being served but that is not what this life is about. It is not about us being served and having "subjects" to order around. It is about us allowing God to create in us his perfect will. This search for Holiness is what we need.
Today, I pray for us as seek to do the will of the Father that has sent us, and not our own.
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