Mark 9:33-35 (ESV)

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.”

Explanation:

A brief overview of the book of Mark would reveal Mark’s expressed concern with the disciples’ training. He describes Jesus as spending most of the time working with, explaining, and preparing His followers for a lifetime of following Him. This passage is another such example. While traveling, Jesus hears the disciples discussing something, much like the kids whispering to each other in the back of the car. When He asks them what they were talking about, they sheepishly admit they were arguing about who would be top disciple. Jesus does not miss the opportunity for their misguided discussion to be a teaching lesson.

Jesus takes the ambition of this world and the desire to be recognized as great among peers, and flips it on its head. He tells the disciples, and us, that if we truly want to be great, we work our way to the bottom, not the top. The path to greatness goes through serving.

This stands in such stark contrast to the world where you and I live. I recognize in me a desire to be recognized, to stand out as successful, accomplished, smart, and talented. I want to be great, and ambition is not necessarily wrong. However, Jesus would say my path to that greatness does not come from my accomplishments, or becoming better than everyone else at one certain aspect of my life. Rather, greatness comes by serving my family, serving my friends, serving my church, and serving the “neighbors” I come into contact with in my everyday life. For Jesus, the path to greatness is not up, but down.

Application:

1. What is one thing that stood out to you in today’s passage?

2. What are some ambitions you recognize in your life?

3. How would you say you accomplish those ambitions?

4. How does Jesus’s call to greatness through serving transform those ambitions?

5. What might today look like if you embodied Jesus’s greatness through serving?

Devo Plus:

Take some time to look up Philippians 2:1-11, and make a list of ways that Jesus embodied this upside-down greatness.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, my desire for greatness is often an indicator of my need for recognition and my need to feel important. I know this is a valid need, but help me find the fulfillment of that need in You, so I can be free to serve others. Help me, Lord, to embody this upside-down path to greatness, to see others as more important than even myself, and to go out of my way to seek their good. Help me trust that You will take care of me, as I follow You. Amen.

Philippians 2:3-11 (ESV)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Explanation:

A friend of mine and I are in the middle of reading a book called Dangerous Prayers, by Pastor Craig Groeschel. One of the prayers that Craig encourages us all to pray is “break me.” When choosing to pray this prayer, you are letting God know that you are open for Him to use whatever means necessary to develop in you a trusting relationship with Him. Trust is necessary for any relationship, especially your relationship with the heavenly Father.

There may be a hesitancy in all of us to pray this type of prayer because of all the possible challenging outcomes we could be opening ourselves up to. But as we read today, Jesus modeled both in word and deed a relationship with the Father that clearly said, “break me.” Just think, if Jesus didn’t choose to be broken, none of what we have spiritually available to us today would have been possible. Mercy and forgiveness of our sins, the grace to walk in the power of God, the hope of eternity…these would have never been our reality. That is a daunting thought. Jesus’s willingness to lose His power and authority for us resulted in a life forever changed. He demonstrated that position should never be an excuse not to serve those around us.

Our lives may never be so extreme as to experience all that Jesus experienced. We are not the King of Kings or the Son of God, but that does not negate the calling to live as Jesus lived, to follow His example of humility and sacrifice. This is not a onetime act. This is a daily surrender to positional entitlement and looking to serve. This may mean we need to be broken in order to see the importance of this responsibility. Are you willing to ask God to break you to be more like Him in every way?

Application:

1. Do you ever feel an entitlement to be served rather than to serve?

2. If so, what might this tell you about your heart?

3. How did Jesus model a “break me” relationship with the Father?

4. Why do you think Jesus says that serving others is the best position to have?

5. How would you like to serve those around you better?

Devo Plus:

Read Matthew 20:20-28. What would Jesus say is an example of greatness?

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for showing us that position does not mean we are entitled not to serve others. You are the epitome of humility and service, and we what to be like You in every way. Holy Spirit, mold and shape my heart to hear from You when I have an opportunity to serve. Remind me that this will be a daily calling, and help me to trust in You for my own personal needs.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Explanation:

In our survival of the fittest culture, admitting weakness is admitting you are powerless in some way, or that you are relinquishing control of something rather than finding a way simply to power through it. However, what we read from the Apostle Paul today is something very different. He communicates that the life Jesus calls us to live is very much upside-down in comparison to what we often hear in the world around us. Paul would say that by embracing your weakness and relinquishing your power, you actually receive a power from God that is far better than anything you could try and produce.

Let me give you a personal example to illustrate this. In leadership, your weaknesses can instantly become very clear. They may not always be clear to others because you can try and fake it to make it, but everyone is weak in some area of their leadership. Weakness doesn’t mean there isn’t any room for improvement in that area, it just means it may not be a strength you naturally have. Early on in leadership, I feared that communicating my weaknesses to anyone would mean the loss of my job. Therefore, I forced my way through, only to find myself constantly overextended and exhausted. I finally reached a point where I needed to surrender my weaknesses to God, and also start some healthy discussions with my mentors about ways to help me in my weaknesses.

What I found on the other side of those decisions was a much stronger version of myself and my leadership. I began to truly rely on others in my weak areas and thrive in the areas where God had naturally made me strong. Furthermore, I started to find rest and peace that God clearly knew these weaknesses before He called me into my position, so this meant He would also provide a way to make things happen, in spite of my weaknesses. I find myself today continually allowing the power of God to rest on me, because in this position, God can demonstrate the magnificence of His power at work.

Application:

1. Why do you think we can at times be afraid to admit our faults and weaknesses?

2. What is one weakness you currently have?

3. How might God’s power shine through in your weakness?

4. What steps will you need to start taking today to find strength in your weakness?

Devo Plus:

Read Psalm 73:26. Will there ever be a time when you will not need the strength of God?

Prayer:

Jesus, I know that I can make things worse when I do not rely on Your strength in my weaknesses. I admit that I am weak, and I am surrendering my weakness to You. It’s by Your power and Your might that I want to live my life, both today and forevermore. Holy Spirit, remind me daily of my need for You, and thank You for making Your power available to me always.

Luke 22:47-53 (ESV)

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Explanation:

Today’s passage is set in the Garden of Gethsemane just after Jesus ate dinner with His disciples, (also known as the Last Supper). When we pick up our story, Jesus is being betrayed by Judas, one of His disciples, which leads to Jesus being arrested. Judas kisses Jesus, and the soldiers rush to grab Him. At this moment, Peter grabs his sword and cuts off the ear of one of the Chief Priest’s officers (John 18:10). In the chaos of the scene, Jesus chastises His disciples, and picks the ear up and heals the man.

Jesus chastised the disciples because their act of resisting His capture with violence was not in His character, and it was not in God’s plan. John quotes Jesus as saying, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11) Jesus in chains seems to be the weaker, while Peter with the sword seems to be the aggressor, and stronger in this moment. The reality is, the roles are the reverse. Peter is ruled by his passions, his fear, his own thoughts on Jesus’s mission. Jesus, in control of all His faculties, continues to demonstrate His character of love by healing the soldier. He continues to show strength by fully submitting to the plan God had laid out for His life, in spite of knowing that following God’s path and plan would lead to suffering and death. Jesus was the one with the real power in the situation.

Application:

1. What is something that stood out to you as you read the passage today?

2. How does self-control, submission, and humility demonstrate more power in this situation?

3. Have you ever experienced a moment when it felt easier to give into anger, violence, aggression, or lashing out rather than to love? Was it easier to give in or control yourself?

4. This kind of power is difficult for us. It takes the help of the Spirit. Take some time today and ask God to give you the strength and courage to live like Jesus, to demonstrate strength through humility.

Devo Plus:

Another example of Christ’s character and demonstration of humble strength can be found in Philippians 2:5-11.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, please fill us today with the strength of Jesus. Self-control is a promised fruit of being with You, yet it is so hard for us to live this way. Please help us to put on Your character, and to walk in humility, submission, and most of all, love. Amen.

Revelations 1:4-6 (ESV)

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Explanation:

As John writes this letter to the seven churches in Asia, he is reminding them Who Jesus is.

Jesus was in the past, before all things were created.

Jesus is in the present, currently involved in the lives of believers.

Jesus will be, He will come again in all His glory.

He is the Ruler over all.

He has created us.

He has given us our gifts and talents.

He is the One Who loves us.

He is the One who defeated the enemy and gave us the victory over sin and death.

He is the One Who has freed us.

He is the One Who has redeemed us.

He is the One Who has saved us.

We cannot do any of this on our own, so we must recognize that He alone deserves the glory. Every part of who we are and everything we do should consistently point others to Jesus. This life is not about us, but about Him and what He has done, what He is doing, what He will continue to do in our lives, and what He will do when He returns. The life we live should be one that always gives Jesus the glory He deserves, because He alone is the only One who is worthy.

Application:

1. Why does Jesus alone deserve all of the glory?

2. Is it hard for you to point the glory to Jesus when you have done something you are proud of?

3. Why don’t we really deserve the glory for the things we do?

4. How you can be purposed to continually point the glory back to God?

Devo Plus:

I encourage you to listen to the song Worthy of It All + All of the Glory by UPPERROOM. Let this song be a reminder to you of how amazing our God is, and that He alone truly deserves the glory.

Prayer:

Dear God, we understand that we could not live through this life without You. We recognize that we could not save ourselves, and we desperately needed a Savior. We thank You for sending Jesus to be just that for us. May this be a constant reminder to us that we do not deserve the glory for anything we accomplish on this earth, but You alone are worthy. We are nothing compared to You. May our lives continually point all of the glory where it is due, and that is to You. It is in Your powerful and holy name we pray. Amen.

Romans 3:21-24 (ESV)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Explanation:

When people pass from this life, I’ve often heard it said they were a “good person” or “lived a good life.” It makes me sad to think so much value is placed on someone being “good,” of gaining value on their earthly life based solely on works they did. God calls us to be much more. In this letter to the Romans, Paul says that righteousness is not based on how well someone follows the written law by doing works or obeying the laws of man. Rather, righteousness is based in the belief that God is the only one who is truly able to grant right standing. We must believe and understand that everyone has sinned and needs God’s amazing grace and forgiveness in order to be made whole. No amount of works or simply “being good” will get us to eternity with Jesus. We must understand that we are sinners, and we need grace.

The last part of this scripture uses three words I want to reflect on for a moment. “Justified” means we have been declared not guilty; we are in right standing with God, the divine judge. All the horrible things we’ve done in our flesh that should condemn us to death have been erased! This is all possible because of “grace,” or what my commentary describes as “God’s unmerited favor.” Finally, “redemption,” a word that has roots in the Old Testament, when the people were called to apply the blood of a spotless lamb to their doorways so death would “pass over” their household. In the same way, Jesus, who lived a spotless life, would die on the cross so we could have life. We are “redeemed” by His sacrifice.

Application:

1. Think about the words in the last part of today’s scripture. When you think about being justified of your sin (declared not guilty), what does that mean to you?

2. When you reflect on the grace (undeserved favor) that God has given to you, does it cause you to pause and identify areas in your life where you should grant grace to others, even when they don’t deserve it?

3. Jesus died on the cross to redeem us (compensate for the sins we committed). When you think about His sacrifice and your salvation, do you see how much He must have loved each one of us to bear the burden of all the horrible things we have done?

Devo Plus:

To dig deeper, go to Ephesians 2:8-10, James 2:20-24, and Colossians 3:12-14.

Prayer:

Ask God to help you reflect on living a life that is in right standing with Him. Ask Him to help you obey His word, and to stand firm on the gift He gave us by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us.

Philippians 3:8-9 (ESV)

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

Explanation:

When we commit ourselves to knowing Jesus intimately, He honors that desire with a deeper knowledge of His truth. We activate our faith by following that truth, revealed in the Bible. As we obey Him, something interesting happens in our hearts. Just like the Apostle Paul, we gradually stop listening to our culture’s definition of success, and we no longer see our accomplishments as having any leverage for eternity.

We should seek to become so identified with Christ that everything this world has to offer—power, possessions, achievements—pale in comparison to knowing Him. As our faith is strengthened, the flesh loses its grip on our actions. I will be honest; I’m not always victorious when faith and flesh collide on the road of righteous living. Occasionally, I try to plow through the roadblocks to get my own way. But when we know Christ intimately, He will reveal Himself to us, even in our failures. And He will patiently direct us back to the center of His will if we, like Paul, consistently put our faith ahead of our flesh.

Application:

1. Why is it important that our righteousness is based solely on faith?

2. Do you have something in your life that you hold dearer than your relationship with God?

3. What would it take for you to surrender this to Him?

Devo Plus:

Read Philippians 3:10-15 to see how Paul encourages us to follow his example.

Prayer:

Ask God to reveal if there is anything competing with your faith in Christ. Ask Him to continue changing your heart to be more like Christ, as you diligently seek Him.

Romans 5:1-2 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Explanation:

Romans 1-3 sets up our scripture today by showing us that according to the law, we are all found guilty at every level. In Romans 5, Paul explains that by Jesus giving up His life as our payment, we are considered justified by faith. In that gift we are given immeasurable benefits, the first being that there is forever peace between us and God. Ephesian 2:14 reiterates that Jesus IS that peace, and it only comes through Him. Life will still be a battle because our gift is peace between us and God, not us and the world, or us and self.

Our second benefit is God’s grace: unmerited favor. Grace has been given to us through Jesus, by faith. Those of us who follow Him are currently standing in that unmerited favor. His work is how our unmerited favor began, but it is also how we continue, through faith. We never arrive…we simply live for Jesus in grace, forever being made more like Him by the Spirit of God. Bible commentator D. Gusick puts it this way, “God’s present attitude towards the believer in Christ Jesus is one of favor, seeing them in terms of joy, beauty and pleasure. He doesn’t just love us; he LIKES us because we are in Jesus.” Peace with God. What more could our hearts long for?

Application:

Here are some truths to mull over in joy and thanksgiving. Because the death of Jesus made peace between you and God:

- You don’t have to prove you are worthy of God’s love.

- He is your friend.

- Your access to Him is permanent.

- You are free of keeping score of wrongs and rights.

- You can spend more time praising God instead of loathing yourself.

Devo Plus:

For more readings on our justification through Jesus, by faith: Habakkuk 2:4, 1 Corinthians 1:29, Genesis 15:6.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for being the way, the truth, and the life. Thank You, Father, that You thought of us before time began, made a way for us before we ever knew we needed it, and You call us friend. Help us to know You more. In the precious name of Jesus!

John 6:25-29 (ESV)

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Explanation:

The people in this passage were the large crowd who had seen Jesus perform the miracle of feeding them with five loaves of bread and two fish. They had witnessed Him doing amazing things, and they wanted to know more about Him. Jesus tells them not to seek bread that only satisfies until one is hungry again, but to seek Him who is the bread of life…Jesus, the Son of God. He tells the crowd the only “work” one must do for eternal life is to have faith and believe Jesus is who He says He is, that He was sent from God.

To just believe…nothing else. It sounds so easy but it can be difficult, because we will not know all the answers, and this makes us feel uncomfortable or even vulnerable. Doubt can creep in and cause us to question everything. I can remember as a child growing up with cancer; I would believe and trust anything my parents would tell me. No matter how serious the situation was, they would always say that I was going to get through this. As a child, I trusted them and never doubted the outcome. I also put my young faith in God because that is what I was taught. Now as an adult, I look back on some of those serious times in my life and think…wow, do I still have that childlike faith? God wants us to approach Him in this same way, to truly believe in Him and what He said in the scriptures. To have faith in Him and trust that He still has a plan and a purpose for our lives. God’s will ultimately determines the outcome, but we can find peace knowing He loves us.

Application:

1. We live in a world that is based on performance and works. We are taught if we work hard, then we can get what we want. How is this different than our relationship with God?

2. When have you had doubt in your life, what has helped you in this time? How can your experiences help others who may be struggling?

3. Belief in someone you can’t see can be difficult at times. What can you tell people who may ask you about your faith in Jesus?

4. Have you ever asked a child about God? Their faith isn’t jaded; they just see God for who He is. Today, think about who God says He is and trust Him, no matter what the situation looks like.

Devo Plus:

YouTube the song We Believe by Newsboys. Allow the song to speak over you, and spend some time with God.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that there is nothing we must do to earn your favor, and nothing we need to do to experience eternal life. You only ask that we put our trust and faith in Your Son, Jesus. Show me the ways I am not trusting You, and where I have put myself before You. Help me to come to You and know that Your ways are perfect. I love You, Father!

Colossians 4:2-6 (ESV)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Explanation:

One of the consistent themes from cover to cover in the Bible is that our words have power. As Christ followers, we must check every word before we speak it, knowing we will be held accountable for what we say (Matthew 12:36). “Being watchful,” we must constantly guard against the temptation to say (or post) anything that could hinder our witness for Jesus Christ. Even our opinions can prevent the lost from seeing Christ in us if we set no boundaries for our tongue.

We may have only one chance, or only one more chance, to show God’s love to someone. Our words should act as salt, to add flavor through encouragement and to prevent corruption, by speaking the truth with love.

Application:

1. How often do you say something you instantly regret?

2. How does prayer, vigilance, and gratitude help keep our words in check?

3. What is the latest thing you posted online? Do you think Jesus would have approved of it, if you asked Him?

Prayer Starter:

Heavenly Father, please help me be aware that my words should bring You glory, while building people up. Convict my heart when I say things that are untrue and hurtful, so I can immediately make it right.

Devo Plus:

Meditate on Psalm 19:14.