Day 24 - Read the Room
Day 24 - Read the Room
Written by: Nathan Boyd
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Matthew 20:17-22 ESV
“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.””
DEVOTION
Have you ever found yourself in an awkward situation? You or someone that you were with said something that was totally inappropriate for the moment? I have been the victim of a number of these situations over the course of my life. I have had the opportunity to perform a number of weddings and funerals and it is at these tense moments that people will often say or do awkward things. The father-of-the-bride talking about how he wanted to murder his new son-in-law or the eulogy that goes entirely to long and airs all the dirty laundry of the deceased. Life is full of awkward moments.
In today’s devotion, we see two passages of scripture that are sandwiched up next to each other that paint a very awkward moment for some of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus has once again announced that he must go to Jerusalem, be condemned by the priests, flogged, crucified, and eventually raised. This must have been sobering news for his disciples, that the man they had been following for the past three years would soon be murdered. Each disciple has a different reaction to Jesus' prophetic statements. Peter upon hearing this news, in Matthew 16, wants to fight to defend Jesus. But in this passage James and John hear Jesus’ words and then go with their mother to ask if they can sit in a place of authority in Jesus’ kingdom.
People say awkward things when they don’t know what else to say, but it is obvious that these disciples, that had spent considerable time with Jesus, totally missed the lifestyle that Jesus was calling them into. Jesus over the course of his ministry taught them to follow his example and become servants, rather than being served by others. Again and again the disciples had been told to resist the places of honor, fame, and prestige, and instead choose to think of others as better than themselves. Somehow these two brothers missed the centrality of Jesus’ message and instead begged for a cabinet position in Jesus’ new kingdom.
It is easy to get so wrapped up in life and consumed with desire that we too miss Jesus’ calling for our lives and instead ask for something that Jesus never intended to give. In our culture today, we are bombarded with the message of making ourselves great and striving to achieve more authority and power. However, the way of Jesus is not striving after these things but rather willingly submitting to the Father’s will and choosing the lifestyle of a servant.
Jesus finishes his conversation with these wayward disciples by saying, ““It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
Let us strive to be like Jesus and become a servant rather than believing that others should serve us.
ACTION STEP
Today, go out of your way to serve someone. This could be a spouse, one of your children, a teacher, a co-worker, or a complete stranger. Go above and beyond to follow the example of Jesus and serve people the way that he would.
PRAYER TIME
Jesus we thank you that you didn’t come to earth to be served but to serve. Help me today to lovingly serve others the way that you would.
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Matthew 20:17-22 ESV
“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.””
DEVOTION
Have you ever found yourself in an awkward situation? You or someone that you were with said something that was totally inappropriate for the moment? I have been the victim of a number of these situations over the course of my life. I have had the opportunity to perform a number of weddings and funerals and it is at these tense moments that people will often say or do awkward things. The father-of-the-bride talking about how he wanted to murder his new son-in-law or the eulogy that goes entirely to long and airs all the dirty laundry of the deceased. Life is full of awkward moments.
In today’s devotion, we see two passages of scripture that are sandwiched up next to each other that paint a very awkward moment for some of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus has once again announced that he must go to Jerusalem, be condemned by the priests, flogged, crucified, and eventually raised. This must have been sobering news for his disciples, that the man they had been following for the past three years would soon be murdered. Each disciple has a different reaction to Jesus' prophetic statements. Peter upon hearing this news, in Matthew 16, wants to fight to defend Jesus. But in this passage James and John hear Jesus’ words and then go with their mother to ask if they can sit in a place of authority in Jesus’ kingdom.
People say awkward things when they don’t know what else to say, but it is obvious that these disciples, that had spent considerable time with Jesus, totally missed the lifestyle that Jesus was calling them into. Jesus over the course of his ministry taught them to follow his example and become servants, rather than being served by others. Again and again the disciples had been told to resist the places of honor, fame, and prestige, and instead choose to think of others as better than themselves. Somehow these two brothers missed the centrality of Jesus’ message and instead begged for a cabinet position in Jesus’ new kingdom.
It is easy to get so wrapped up in life and consumed with desire that we too miss Jesus’ calling for our lives and instead ask for something that Jesus never intended to give. In our culture today, we are bombarded with the message of making ourselves great and striving to achieve more authority and power. However, the way of Jesus is not striving after these things but rather willingly submitting to the Father’s will and choosing the lifestyle of a servant.
Jesus finishes his conversation with these wayward disciples by saying, ““It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
Let us strive to be like Jesus and become a servant rather than believing that others should serve us.
ACTION STEP
Today, go out of your way to serve someone. This could be a spouse, one of your children, a teacher, a co-worker, or a complete stranger. Go above and beyond to follow the example of Jesus and serve people the way that he would.
PRAYER TIME
Jesus we thank you that you didn’t come to earth to be served but to serve. Help me today to lovingly serve others the way that you would.
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January 9th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 10th, 2023 - The Burning BushJanuary 11th, 2023 - Strong and Courageous January 12th, 2023 - Obediently Set ApartJanuary 13th, 2023 - Faithful Among Enemy NationsJanuary 14th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 16th, 2023 - Be StillJanuary 17th, 2023 - God Inhabits His PraisesJanuary 18th, 2023 - Enjoying God's PresenceJanuary 19th, 2023 - Broken & Contrite HeartJanuary 20th, 2023 - Asking for OthersJanuary 21st, 2023 - Petition and ProvisionJanuary 23rd, 2023 - One Body, Many PartsJanuary 24th, 2023 - Love One AnotherJanuary 25th, 2023 - Unity in the BodyJanuary 26th, 2023 - Consider Others BetterJanuary 27th, 2023 - Living in the LightJanuary 28th, 2023 - Don't Let Anger Control YouJanuary 30, 2023 - The Power of FastingJanuary 31st, 2023 - Pray as You Can
February
February 1st, 2023 - ScriptureFebruary 2nd, 2023 - Sabbath Day, Best DayFebruary 3rd, 2023 - SimplicityFebruary 4th, 2023 - WorshipFebruary 6th, 2023 - Love Your NeighborFebruary 7th, 2023 - Come and See, Go and TellFebruary 8th, 2023 - GenerosityFebruary 9th, 2023 - Caring for the VulnerableFebruary 10, 2023 - HospitalityFebruary 11th, 2023 - Build
2022
January
Covid UpdateDay 1 - Is It Worth It?Day 2 - God Promises His PresenceDay 3 - Aligning Ourselves With GodDay 4 - The Voice of the ShepherdVision 2022 - Begins this Sunday!Day 5 - Rushing or Resting?Day 6 - "By the Grace of God"Day 7 - A Day for Rest and WorshipDay 8 - Ask Boldly and Surrender CompletelyDay 9 - Our Deliverance for His GloryDay 10 - Ask for the ImpossibleDay 11 - Adversity Meets Unwavering FaithWhat an incredible start to 2022!!Day 12 - Focus Reveals FaithDay 13 - Impossible Mission!Day 15 - Followers of JesusDay 16 - The Good News of God’s LoveDay 17 - Radical Love Leads People to JesusLet's Try this Again...Day 18 - Relentless CommitmentDay 19 - Unending Power SourceDay 20 - Come and See, Go and TellDay 22 - Many Parts, One BodyDay 23 - A New Command - Love One AnotherDay 24 - One Body and One LordDay 25 - Be Angry, But Do Not SinDo you Belong?Day 26 - The Commandment of LoveDay 27 - The Attitude and Obedience of Christ
March
Day 1 - Seeking the Lord TogetherDay 2 - Ash WednesdayDay 3 - The Baptism of JesusDay 4 - The Word as a WeaponDay 5 - Freedom in ConfessionDay 6 - Love Your EnemiesDay 7 - Anxious for NothingDay 8 - Effective PrayerDay 9 - Amazing FaithDay 10 - The Bleeding WomanDay 11 - Confidence in GodDay 12 - Fear Not!Day 13 - Come and RestDay 14 - Kingdom Minded CommunityDay 15 - The TreasureDay 16 - Peace in His PresenceDay 17 - Raise the RoofDay 18 - A Parent's CommitmentDay 19 - Too Good to be TrueDay 20 - Only JesusDay 21 - The Ninety-Nine and the OneDay 22 - Salvation Through SurrenderDay 23 - Good Rest from a Good ShepherdDay 24 - Read the RoomDay 25 - A Fruitful FaithDay 26 - The Wedding FeastDay 27 - Serve Like Jesus