PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 9:33-37
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
Among chickens, there is a pecking order… among humans too.
We want to establish ourselves in a good place, to rise up in the ranks.
There is something normal and healthy in this… God created us to valued.
But the curse of sin has twisted this into a game of ‘king of the hill’.
The disciples of Jesus were playing this game too… is that different today?
Does the church focus on the stars, the celebrities, those who perform well?
Jesus was not a performer, nor did He celebrate the performers.
Jesus did His best to downplay public acclaim, to stay humble and invisible.
And His focus was on the little and invisible people as well.
Children, women, outcasts, ‘sinners’… Jesus celebrated these ones!
These are the ones that Jesus celebrates, that He seeks autographs from…
As Jesus followers, have we set up our own pecking order?
Do we value those with visible gifts and positions more than the invisible ones?
Do we celebrate everyday people in our church, and value their presence?
PRAYER
Lord, how easy it is to slip into the world’s pecking order, and even to build it into the life of Your church. Help me to see the true heroes and stars among us, and help me to be like them, like You!
No one went further or stooped down lower for mankind – for me – than Jesus. I do I dare have the audacity to not reach down – even the thought of saying ‘reaching down’ implies that I have a ‘higher position’ than someone else! A superiority thinking that I’ve got to eradicate!! Help to truly be humble Lord – to see myself as better than no one else – but on the level! Help me see what you see and reach out not down!
Lord, thank you for welcoming me and showing us how to welcome. Help us focus on serving and not leading – give us the strength to put our needs behind the needs of others.