40 DAYS - Day 23 - 3.15.21

Love Goes the Distance - Day 23 - Monday, March 15th - Pastor Chris
Read Mark 9:30-50 and focus on 9:33-41
Remember to Pause | Read | Reflect | Listen |Pray | Journal |Practice | Encourage/Share |Fast

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. (ESV)

We are fascinated as people to define who is the greatest amongst us. We do it for leaders, politicians, sports figures, singers, actors, and even preachers. One of the biggest debates, for example, in Basketball, is Michael Jordan or Lebron James. Both are astonishing athletes in their own right, but they play or played in different eras, so it's hard to say who is better. However, I can guarantee that some of you who were reading this devotion are yelling MJ or Lebron. The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) is a common debate.

Even the Disciples were interested in that same question but in arrogance about themselves. However, notice how Jesus turns the debate into a truly humbling response for them. Notice in the entirety of the passage you read today Jesus indicates that the greatest among us is not MJ or Lebron but only the humble servant of God's Kingdom. Jesus tells the Disciples that the one who serves others in Christ, draws others to a relationship with Christ, causes no one to sin, and they themselves stay focused on Christ (salty) are the G.O.A.T. The good news is that you and I can achieve all those things and not even have to win NBA Championships; we just need to love and serve Jesus in humility.

Prayer Focus - Today, we will pray for the Holy Spirit to open our eyes so we can see the hurting in our OIKOS and make a decision to minister to those who are hurting.