Humbly Serving

 When we desire to do great things for Jesus, we need to be sure it's for the right reasons.  When we desire for the Lord to do whatever we ask, we also need to be sure the request is for the right reasons.  It may be a good ambition but if we are motivated to achieve a position of power, gain applause and the like, our desire is misplaced.  James and John once asked Jesus,

"Grant us to sit, one on your right hand and one at your left, in glory"                      (Mark 10:37 ESV).

Sounds good.  We want to be close to Jesus, to be by His side or sit at His feet, don't we?  Jesus told them that those positions were not His to give.  They needed to be servants.

A servant's position is a more humble place, more at the feet.  As a servant goes about his or her duties, they are more in the background, behind the scenes, getting things done.

No doubt they do hope for the "well done" praise but it may not be forthcoming.  They may be more likely to be complained about and criticized and told to do more things and to do them better.  A tough road to travel.

We need to check and examine our motivations for serving the Lord.  Are we selfishly seeking some position of power, taking glory that belongs to the Lord?  Or are we sincerely and humbly serving Him and making our requests according to His will?

May our Lord's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Tom Felten wrote in Our Daily Bread 2023 words that would be a great rudder to help steer us aright if we lived by them.  He said,

"As we aim to do good and great things for Christ, may we seek His wisdom and direction - humbly serving others as He did so well" (see Mark 10:45).

May all glory be to God.

                                               ~ ERC  February 2025 ~

Based on Mark 10:35 (ESV) and Our Daily Bread 2023 - Sept/Oct/Nov - 20 Sept by Tom Felten.

Sing, Speak, O Lord, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.