ESOCS Devotional 24 October 2021
TEXT: MATTHEW 20:17-34
MEMORY VERSE: “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20: 26-27 KJV).
Unrestrained desire for exalted position and lust for material gains, creeped into the Church of God Universal; and it has grown and spread like a pandemic disease. People leave the more important things of the kingdom (service to God and humanity with a humble heart and the pursuit of righteousness and holy living), to chase after “filthy lucre” – material gain (1 Pet. 5:2). James and John, and their mother got it all wrong (Matt. 20:20-28). Their desire was not in line with kingdom principles.
The priesthood and leadership style of Jesus are of servanthood; not lordship. Therefore, He admonished His disciples (and us today) to seek to become servants like Him (Luke 22:27), and not rulers in any position we occupy. He endorsed humility as a mark of true leadership, making Himself a brilliant example Christians should imitate (vs. 25-28); for while He was on earth, He was unassuming, and served God and the human race on the cross, in complete submission to the will of God the Father, and with great humility too.
In rejecting lordship over the flock of God and approving humility in service, our Lord established a principle in the conduct of God’s business, and therefore called on Christians to imbibe and practise it, as the acceptable standard. Consequently, He admonished us not to follow the practices of unbelievers in the secular world but to tune our hearts and minds to the principles of the Kingdom of God, and be guided by them.
Furthermore, God’s children are to be treated kindly, and with love, respect, and dignity; must not be bullied or intimidated. They should be cared for, nurtured towards meaningful Christian growth, and pointed towards heaven.
- I rule over my followers so that they will not take me for granted.? Discuss.
Lord Jesus, you succeeded because humility. Help me to be in like manner.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Job 1: 13-22; Proverbs 9:1-10; Acts 16: 6-24
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ESOCS Devotional 24 October 2021
