September 7, 2010  |  Mark 9:35

Read - "Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'If any wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Examine - The disciples start arguing amongst themselves about who will have the greater positions of authority and influence in God's kingdom. The certainly weren't getting the big picture of why Jesus had come in the world. They had figured out by now that He was the Messiah, but they did not understand His mission. Mark presents Jesus as the Suffering Servant. Servanthood is one of the major themes of the entire book and here in this verse, Jesus brings it to the forefront. Greatness and responsibility are linked directly to humility and service.

Apply - I love to be served. I have this built-in value of good service. I recognize good service but I really recognize poor service. It's as irritating as sitting at the DMV. I think we're all like that. We appreciate it when someone serves us, but how many days of my week are lived out of a perspective of service. I remember a friend of mine, Miguel Castillo, challenged me on a biblical outlook of servanthood. He drew the world on a napkin while we were at a Starbucks in Dallas, TX. Above the world, he drew a stick figure. Beneath the figure, he wrote the word, servanthood, then he drew a circle around it. Finally he drew an arrow from the figure through the word "servanthood" and had the point at the world. Now, that may not sound earth shattering but the point was this: being a servant requires a fresh point of view. I have been given today and today only. Who can I serve this day? What will service look like in my home and workplace? Am I even aware of the people around me or am I just off to the next meeting, the next project or the next call that will help me get things done? What about my home? Am I sensitive to the needs of my wife and kids today? What I can do for them that will help them do what God has given them to do today? I want to intentionally look for ways of service today...no strings attached kind of service.

Pray - Lord, thank you for serving and loving me first. I have done nothing to deserve your grace and mercy yet You chose to demonstrate that anyway. I simply ask for the opportunities today to meet specific needs around me. Maybe it will be a conversation or a small task. I choose to live today through the lens that the reason I'm here is to lay my life down for the needs of others. May You help me do this. In the name of Christ I pray. Amen.