September 2 ~ Matthew 20:20-28
It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request.
“What do you want?” Jesus asked.
She
said, “Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the
highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at
your left hand.”
Jesus responded, “You have no idea what you’re
asking.” And he said to James and John, “Are you capable of drinking the
cup that I’m about to drink?” They said, “Sure, why not?”
Jesus
said, “Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to
awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. My Father is taking
care of that.”
When the ten others heard about this, they lost
their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got
them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how
godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power
goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever
wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among
you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came
to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for
the many who are held hostage.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
The children started
Taekwondo classes yesterday. They were three of five students in the
“Tiger Cubs” division. The instructor showed the children some basic
kicks and began to teach them about how to respond with a “Yes, sir!”
and how to bow to the American flag – and to him – with respect. They
all did well for their first effort. But at the end of the class, the
instructor gave “stars” to the three children who were wearing the “best
t-shirts” (as judged by students from the older class). This group
included Nathan, who got “third place” for his dinosaur shirt! Then he
gave a star to the person who had worked hardest and performed the best
in the 30-minute class…and that star went to Zola! Timothy did not get a
star…and the instructor issued something of a challenge to him…”I bet
NEXT week, YOU get the star for best work!”
Timothy tried not to cry as he put on his socks and shoes – and he had
one a game that the class had played. But for a six-year-old, the
understanding that we are not always the “winner” or at the top of the
heap was a hard lesson. Our job as adults will be to teach these
children that there is value in working hard and serving from the
“middle”…that we don’t always have to be the leader or the “winner!”
This
is a challenging lesson for us, also…particularly when it comes to our faith.
We get the mistaken idea that because God chose us…because we are saved
by the blood of Jesus…we are on the same level as He is…that we will
sit side Him for all Eternity. Go back and comb through the scriptures
again. I believe the wording you will find indicates that we will sit at His feet!
And this is where we humbly belong! God will decide who sits on the
throne…and all indications are that this position is reserved for His
Beloved Son – Jesus Christ!
This does not diminish our
salvation…or our roles as Jesus’ disciples. It merely defines our
relationship. He is the Master…we are His servants. And that is a
perfectly good arrangement…one in which we should proudly and honorably
do our best to glorify the Kingdom of Heaven and present our best work.
Our ultimate “star” will be a position at Jesus’ feet…forever and
ever…and His blessings and abundance in the meantime.
It’s time
for us to quit trying to always be the leader…or the winner…or to always
be right about everything. We need to humbly focus on being the best
disciple and servant of Jesus Christ that we can be…and let God handle
the rest. Are you ready to bow with respect and say, “Yes, sir!”…to do
your best work and earn the “star” of God’s approval when He presents
it? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment