Friday November 18, 2022

Today is Friday, November 18 and we are exploring what the Bible says about our church’s mission statement.

Making Disciples of Jesus Christ who love God, love others, and serve the world.

I am here to pray. I still my body, quiet my mind and slow my breathing. As I inhale, I breathe in God’s love, joy and peace. As I exhale, I breathe out negativity, worry or fear.

Pause and Pray

Holy and Loving God, I draw near to Your presence this morning and listen for Your voice speaking into my life. Open the ears of my soul and the eyes of my heart so I may gain understanding of Your perfect will for me. Amen.

I praise God’s goodness and worship Him with the ancient words of Psalm 9.

The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:7-10

Pause and Pray

The church shares a collective mission as the gathered followers of Jesus Christ. A key part of that mission is to serve others. Shortly before Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and was welcomed by cheering crowds waving palm branches, two of His disciples came to Him with a request. They asked Jesus if they could be chosen to sit beside Him when He ruled – one of them at His right and the other at His left. The two disciples did not understand what they were asking, as Jesus was about to be crucified. However Jesus and the others understood their request to be self-serving revealing the level of their selfishness and immaturity. The other disciples were not happy. Jesus responded with a challenge to all of His disciples to be motivated to live a life dedicated to serving others.

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 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. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be 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.” Mark 10:41-45

Jesus turns basic human motivations upside down. For the person who aims at a better position, strives for a promotion, shoots for greatness, seeks power or likes bossing people around, Jesus offers an alternative hierarchy. The disciple is called to serve others. The disciple is invited to the bottom of the rung. Jesus provides the perfect example – He did not come to earth to be served by people, He came to serve people. Jesus did not come to earth to preserve His life, but to pour Himself out and give His life as a ransom for others. If I want to live life as a disciple of Jesus I am to pour myself out and serve others to demonstrate His love and glorify His name.

Ask: How do I serve the world? What motivates and inspires me to serve others? What prevents and inhibits me from serving others?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, thank you for emptying Yourself of divinity and coming to this earth out of love for human souls like me. I am grateful for Your generous act of service and sacrificial love. You became obedient and served others even to the point of death – death on a cross. Teach me to imitate Your humility and give my life in service to the world. I read Mark again, listening for the message You have for me today.

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 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. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be 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.” Mark 10:41-45
Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God is revealing new truths from His holy Word every day. I endeavor to listen with the ears of my soul to comprehend what God is revealing about my motivations, my life and my service. Today I focus on my mission to love others with a sincere love that inspires me to unselfishly pour out my days and hours in humble service. Whatever image, word or phrase that stands out to me, I will carry it with me throughout the day.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, gentle and humble Savior of my soul, come and reveal my selfish heart just as You exposed the self-seeking ambition of James and John. Call me into account and give me a heart of compassion that earnestly seeks to love and serve others. Inspire me to love in generous and extravagant ways – just as You first loved me. Amen.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11

As I leave this time of prayer, I go in the strength of the Holy Spirit to serve a world that needs Jesus.

Amen