Daily Devotion – Monday March 12th
Reminder- Dare this week: I Dare you to Memorize Scripture Verses
Theme: God calls us to Go Change Our World
Suggested Opening prayer
Thank you Lord for this last weekend – for all that I was able to do (and not do). Thank you for this day and the beginning of a new week. Help me, as I spend this time with you now, to see you as the Great Servant that you came to earth to be. Help me to conceive of God the Son coming down to die and give of His life for mine. May I be able to be a little Jesus this week – that I could serve others as you would have me. Amen.
Read: .
A. Matthew 20:20-28 (NIV)
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 “What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
B. Hymn: Take My Life and Let it Be by Frances R. Havergal
Almighty God, in whose hands are the powers of man; who givest understanding, and takest it away; who, as it seemeth good unto Thee, enlightenest the thoughts of the simple, and darkenest the meditations of the wise, be present with me in my studies and enquiries.
Grant, O Lord, that I may not lavish away the life which Thou hast given me on useless trifles, nor waste it in vain searches after things which Thou hast hidden from me.
Enable me, by the Holy Spirit, so to shun sloth and negligence, that every day may discharge part of the task which Thou hast allotted me; and so further with thy help that labour which, without thy help, must be ineffectual, that I may obtain, in all my undertakings, such success as will promote thy glory, and the salvation of my own soul, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Reflect: silent and written
Reflect upon the words of Jesus from today’s passage: “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflect upon the fact that Jesus came to serve first and not to be served – that He is our model for self-less living.
Respond:
Talk to God about the week ahead of you. Ask God to give you the ability to put the needs of others appropriately ahead of you own…that you could serve others as Jesus did and that your week could be more than just duties and responsibilities but a gift you can give to others.
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