Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

I have another Matthew moment from our Bible Study tonight. In Matthew 20:20-28 we get to hear the mother of Zebedee’s sons ask Jesus if her sons James and John could sit one on the right hand and one on the left hand in His kingdom.

Perhaps we see a mother who wants her sons to have positions of power in the earthly kingdom that they still believe Jesus will create.  But is it her ambition or theirs?  Jesus tries to warn them that they will have to “drink from His cup” because they are His disciples but makes no promise to give a position that only God can grant.  Now needless to say this band of disciple brothers were jealous or perhaps outraged that James and John would seek this high ranking position. Jesus addresses this disciple rilvary by letting the disciples know that they are to have on their minds how they might serve rather than looking for a position they could be served in.

I wonder just how many disciples of Jesus Christ today are looking for positions of importance in which they can garner the praise and sit in the seat that will get them served?  It is always a struggle to be the servants servant but that is exactly what Jesus calls us to do.  We must set aside our own will that leads us to the desire to be recognized and work on doing the will of Jesus Christ because it is what He calls us to do.  It is a hard thing for us in our humanity to not seek praise for what we do but it is our role as Christians to do just that.  Do what God through Jesus Christ calls us to do in a way that is humble and self sacrificing.  God will see us and He will reward us with rewards that will be so much better than any plaque or certificate that man can create.

As Christians we do work for Christ because we love Him, want to give Him glory and honor and see His kingdom grow.

Have a blessed day, Randy