Great Among You

Great Among You
Words of Faith 2-14-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 10
[41] When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. [42] Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Just the fact that two disciples were seeking special treatment set off a storm of discontent. The Scripture is brutally honest in revealing to us the humanity of the Twelve. The rivalries are apparent in many places, but here they became indignant with James and John. How DARE they ask for such a thing!
The ten may have even found a way to make their indignation sound very spiritual. "Why I would NEVER dream of asking the Master for such a thing... although everyone KNOWS I would be far better suited to sit at the right hand of the Lord than those "sons of thunder"!
Jesus has to settle it all with one of His crystal clear explanations. We are not like the Gentiles around here! We are NOT like some Roman regiment or governmental hierarchy where rulers lord it over those below them! We are part of the Kingdom of God. We are here to serve, not be served. Genuine greatness is easily achieved by becoming a slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Surely a few were left scratching their heads. What kind of a Kingdom is it that the rulers wait the tables? What kind of Ruler is it who slips to the back of the line? What kind of Commander is it who serves rather than commands others to serve? What kind of Messiah is it who comes not to be served but to serve others? What kind of King pays ransom with his life rather than being ransomed by others? What kind? The real kind. The Jesus kind. The Kingdom of God kind.

Lord, help me today to find greatness in serving others, to find power in surrendering self, to find authority in humility, to find the high place as a slave to all. Protect me from the sin of unrighteous indignation, no matter how well disguised. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.