Matthew 20: 25 – 28, verse 28 “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Dear God,
It is very good to come to You at the beginning of each day, to learn, pray, worship and adore. I find it the sweetest and most peaceful time of each day; a time I treasure, and I thank You for, and especially for the blessings bestowed upon me during this time. Today I ask that I be filled with much of the Holy Spirit, so that I can be brought closer to You, and be able to truly walk obediently the way You have for me. I give You my sinful and wayward will, to change, strengthen and direct me. I long for a large portion of love, wisdom, compassion and power, as well as whatever other gifts the Holy Spirit knows that I need.
The mother of the Zebedee sons came asking for special favours for her sons, when they reached heaven with Jesus, such as that one sit on the right of Jesus and the other on the left. Despite the ignorance about how heaven functions, and the unfairness toward the other disciples, inherent in her request; Jesus was not unkind as He gave His answer, as to why this could not be. Such a privilege, only God the Father could grant, as well as the fact that God’s kingdom, does not operate as for those who handle the affairs of earth. On earth it is the people of power who seek to use their position to control others and success is measured by ability, finance and belongings. Jesus expanded on how this was not God’s way, Matthew 20: 26 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him become your servant.” Verse 27 “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.” None of this comes easy to me and others, for as sinful mortal human people, we have many admirable attributes, but we also have innate selfishness, and a desire for supremacy over others, which we have inherited from Satan. Those attributes were made manifest during Lucifers original sin. He has grown into these characteristics more and more since leaving heaven. The angels who were loyal to him (and not God) have grown to be like their boss.
Jesus is still our example, and has shown, that we can be humble and caring whilst on this earth, if we see our need and then allow the Spirit to change us. I desire for this change to take place in my heart.
Loving You best, and serving You, first, and serving others is what I find being Your child is all about. But I have found none of this comes naturally to someone born on this earth; and is never possible apart from You in my life every moment of every day. Thank you for this privilege and the influence and enabling from the Holy Spirit to make it happen more often in my life.
Amen