Do you have to be #1?

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Mark 9:35 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Last? Nobody, I mean NOBODY likes to be last. We have a hard enough time settling for second place, much less last place. But, Jesus reverses the rank or order when He talks with His disciples here. He confounds the world with His foolish ways! The person who is most important to Him is not the person seeking the status and the notoriety of being number 1! The most important person is the one most like Jesus Himself: willing to give up rank and status and importance to serve his brethren. For Jesus, last means being first in service, first to lay your self down for some else’s benefit, and first in the eyes of God because you have given yourself to Him first in the service of others. I did not want to, nor did I myself choose to be a Pastor – Jesus decided that I should be a Pastor, He told me that I was to be a Pastor for Him and I chose to accept. Ministry means service, service means WORK, ministry means serving others first before self just as Jesus did! Do you want to be first, to be recognized and have status before others? Then you first need to be a servant to all! But serve “As unto the Lord” not unto man or because you have to. Remember it’s a choice, you get to, you don’t have to! You always have a choice. And always remember that it is really the Lord you are serving not some man or woman. Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

MY PRAYER…
Magnificent Father, creator of all that was, is, and ever will be, You have made this wonderful world for me and have given Your Son to redeem me. How can I ever thank You or repay You for Your Grace, Your Mercy, and Your Kindness. Today help me see those You want me to serve for You. Lord extend Your grace and kindness toward me as I try to be more like You. I can not do it on my own, this I know, but through Jesus all things are possible. Lord I give You my body, a living sacrifice. Change me, purge me, rearrange me Lord, into a vessel worthy to serve You. A vessel that will bring glory and honor to Your name and Your Kingdom. In the name of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus.

Amen