Do You Want To Be First Or Last?
Good Morning Friends,
You have heard it said that the Holy Spirit both convicts and comforts. We see this played out in today’s scripture. You see, in the world, almost everyone is trying to make it to the top of the ladder…to be the richest and the greatest. And do not get me wrong, it is fine to want to always improve, but God’s kingdom is a reverse kingdom when it comes to thinking about success. In God’s kingdom, the way up is sometimes down and way down is sometimes up. Sometimes we sing a new song and sometimes follow tradition. We have been set free but the question is still about what God wants and let me tell you this, God wants to be put first in our lives. So, Do You Want To Be First Or Last?
Scripture: Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:1-10 (NRSV)
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Mark 9:30-37 (NRSV)
Message: Today we explore the problem of people realizing that they should submit to God but living as if God does not exist. Today we explore the possibility of taking the leap from good to great in our business life and getting the right people on the bus, but in our personal lives choosing goodness over greatness. You see, in arrogance people fail to realize that they and their lives are only a mist that appears for a little while, then vanishes. And during this brief earthly life we focus on the wrong things. We have a lot of grand plans but often leave out God in them. We have made a confession that Jesus is Lord but fail to live that way. Friends, it is a great principle for business to go from good to great, but when it comes to personal greatness, Jesus turned the pyramid upside down. We are to go from thinking about greatness to focusing on goodness that serves. When it comes to our personal relationship with God and with others, Jesus taught that personal goodness is more valuable than personal greatness. Friends, we are to be God-centered not self-centered. When Jesus’ disciples were arguing about who was the greatest, Jesus confronted them with the reality that they were off track. So maybe we need to stop for a moment and understand our limitations. It is so easy to think that we can determine our future. But if we act as if we are the masters of our souls and the captains of our destinies we deceive ourselves.
Pray we not organize our future without stopping to consider what God wants first. Pray we have the humility of a child. Pray we submit to the will of God. Pray we serve others. Pray we have an unrestrained joy, and unreserved love and an uncomplicated trust in God. Pray we realize that there are no little people and no little tasks. Pray we speak to others with kindness and to God with humility. Pray we ask for the right things. Pray we draw near to God. Pray in our collective lives, in mission and ministry, we strive for greatness but in our personal lives for goodness. Pray we rejoice in all things. Pray we live in the world but not of it. Pray we realize that in the Kingdom of God the first are last and the last first.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 