January 29, 2018
It’s Not What You Think
Mark 9:35
He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
Many people have a false concept of Christianity. They think we are every kind of social phobic there is and that the Bible we read and live by is full of hate speech. They couldn’t be more wrong. If Christians truly hated certain groups of people, why would we ever share the Gospel with them? The Good News could possibly save them from sin, death and eternal punishment! That doesn’t sound like hate and ignorance on the part of Believers, it sounds to me like the unbelieving portion of society are the ignorant ones.
But even the original followers of Jesus didn’t understand what was going on at first. They assumed that being in Jesus’ circle would mean great things for themselves personally. Jesus had to tell them their purpose and explain to them that He himself (the One who actually IS God) is serving and not being served.
“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
Those who follow Jesus take on HIS purpose:
*Be different.
*Serve others.
*Give up our own lives meaning our own way of living in exchange for living the way HE has shown us in order that MANY will come to him too.
It’s not what you think. The Disciples were not going attain status, power and glory for themselves, and Christians are not an exclusive club of hypocrites and bigots. We are simply living how God directs us to live through his Word and sharing Jesus with others so as many people as possible can be saved from their sins like we have been saved from our sins. And that is something an unloving, ignorant bigot would never ever do.
Dear God,
Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to show us how to live and teach us what to do. Help me to be different, serve others, and give up my way of doing things in exchange for yours. Your way is good, kind, merciful and full of love and forgiveness, and I am so thankful and glad to be part of your Eternal Family! I pray today for our loved ones and the loved ones of my Christian friends who have misunderstood or ignored you. Help them turn their hearts toward you and be saved from their sins just like you did for me! I love you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
It’s Not What You Think
Mark 9:35
He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
Many people have a false concept of Christianity. They think we are every kind of social phobic there is and that the Bible we read and live by is full of hate speech. They couldn’t be more wrong. If Christians truly hated certain groups of people, why would we ever share the Gospel with them? The Good News could possibly save them from sin, death and eternal punishment! That doesn’t sound like hate and ignorance on the part of Believers, it sounds to me like the unbelieving portion of society are the ignorant ones.
But even the original followers of Jesus didn’t understand what was going on at first. They assumed that being in Jesus’ circle would mean great things for themselves personally. Jesus had to tell them their purpose and explain to them that He himself (the One who actually IS God) is serving and not being served.
“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
Those who follow Jesus take on HIS purpose:
*Be different.
*Serve others.
*Give up our own lives meaning our own way of living in exchange for living the way HE has shown us in order that MANY will come to him too.
It’s not what you think. The Disciples were not going attain status, power and glory for themselves, and Christians are not an exclusive club of hypocrites and bigots. We are simply living how God directs us to live through his Word and sharing Jesus with others so as many people as possible can be saved from their sins like we have been saved from our sins. And that is something an unloving, ignorant bigot would never ever do.
Dear God,
Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to show us how to live and teach us what to do. Help me to be different, serve others, and give up my way of doing things in exchange for yours. Your way is good, kind, merciful and full of love and forgiveness, and I am so thankful and glad to be part of your Eternal Family! I pray today for our loved ones and the loved ones of my Christian friends who have misunderstood or ignored you. Help them turn their hearts toward you and be saved from their sins just like you did for me! I love you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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