Mark 10:41-45 Serving
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 14, 2018, Mark 10:41-45
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
And when the ten heard, they began to be indignant with James and John. But Jesus called them and said to them, You know that they who are accounted rulers over the nations exercise lordship over them. And their great ones exercise authority on them.
(Understanding the Text) Of course, the other disciples were outraged when they heard what James and John had done. They may have felt betrayed by the two trying to “cheat” and get a promise ahead of the competition to prove themselves. They may have been chagrined that they had not thought to do the same thing. They may have felt nervous energy upon realizing that the two seats were open but that they had almost lost out on those positions. Did they have time to start saying strong words to the brothers? Or did Jesus nip the problem in the bud before they could work up a good head of steam and say something that couldn’t be taken back. Peter probably felt the most betrayed as he was the most sure of his position as Jesus’ right hand man and had received indications that he would be the leader later. He probably felt that James and John had tried to do an end run around him and was angry that they were trying to trick their way into leadership after being his partners for years before they even knew Jesus.
Jesus tells them to all gather around and listen to what He has to say. Then, He tells them that their ideas about His kingdom and who has a place of authority are all wrong. In the world people in authority can throw their weight around, have the best homes, and show off. However, in the kingdom of heaven those who have authority are the servants of others. Their job is all about meeting others’ needs.
But it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever of you desires to become first, he shall be servant 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.
(Application) Jesus tells them that among the disciples, and by extension among Christians, and by extension in heaven, the leaders will serve each other. The greatest Christian is the Christian who serves and the more a person serves, the greater he/she becomes. This is character building, but it is also simply the way heaven is.
(Revelation of God) Jesus has confidence in Himself. He knows who He is. He is God. He is the Son of the Father. He has power that the disciples cannot imagine, but He also knows who He is in character and destiny. Jesus knows that He was in heaven but consented to become human in order to serve humans. He knows that He is on the road to Jerusalem where He will die so that humans can live. Jesus knows the ways of heaven. He knows that His position in heaven is the highest, except He places the Father higher. He tells the men that if they are His disciples, they have to follow His leading. His leading is into service. Just a thought: If the Father is the highest in heaven, He must be the greatest servant of all. I never thought about the Father as a servant before. I’ll have to think about this some more.
(Prayer) I pray not to let pride lift me up so that I am of no use to You. I pray to serve others the way that You want me to. I pray that You will make me fit for heaven.