Right after the transfiguration and casting out the demon from the boy, Jesus and His disciples went through Galilee. Jesus told them again about His death and resurrection, but they did not understand what He was telling them, and they were afraid to ask. Perhaps the reason was that they saw how Jesus rebuked Peter when he tried to rebuke Jesus. Then as they were coming to Capernaum, the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them. When they came to Capernaum, Jesus asked His disciples what they were discussing, for Jesus knew what they were arguing about. Jesus then sat down and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all." To further illustrate what it meant to be a servant, He took a child in His arms and said, "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me." (Mark 9:30-37).
Interestingly, right after Jesus told them about His death and resurrection, the disciples began arguing about who was the greatest among them. They wanted to become the greatest, for they wanted to be above others and be served. But they did not understand that the reason Jesus came was to become the servant of all by sacrificing His life for the sins of the world. If anyone wants to be the greatest, he must become the servant of all, just like Jesus. They must be willing to receive and serve the lowly, such as the little children. Jesus accepted us like a little child when we were very needy and lost in our sins.
We need to continue to examine our hearts and protect our hearts from pride. There is nothing wrong when we are more knowledgeable and stronger than others, but when we start to look down upon others and compare ourselves as greater than others and unwilling to help the needy, we are no longer living the way God wants us to live. Let us not use the blessings that God has entrusted to us to lift ourselves up over others. We must use the blessings that God has given us to serve others in a way God wants us to serve.
Ask yourself these questions: What does it mean to be the servant of all? Do I have a servant's heart? Am I comparing myself with others instead of being a blessing to others?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for teaching me today about what it means to be the servant of all. Lord Jesus, you came to serve me by dying for my sins. Thank you for accepting me when I was lost in my sin. Please help me to walk in humility and use the blessings that you have entrusted to me to bless others, and not use them to lift myself up over others. Please continue to change my heart to be the servant that you want me to be. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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