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“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave 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.”
Mark 10:43-45

Servant Leadership

Daily Devotion – October 22, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:43-45


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If your main goal in life is to meet the needs of others, not yourself, what does that make you? A flight attendant? The parent of a newborn? Service staff in a restaurant? No, it makes you a Christian. Let me explain.

When Jesus became a human being, he humbled himself. From all eternity, he had been God, and he could have arrived on the earth demanding to be worshiped, but instead, he came to meet the needs of others. He lived the life they could not have lived, and when it came time for him to take the reward of heaven, he chose to take the suffering of hell instead. He died for you. He did not demand to be served. Instead, he earned forgiveness for you. He served.

That means your basic needs are taken care of. As a Christian, you have forgiveness for your sins, and when your sins are forgiven, you get eternal life in heaven.

When you do not have to worry about meeting your own needs, you are freed up to meet the needs of others.

People whose main job is to meet the needs of others are servants. Jesus says that you are free to think of yourself that way, even in areas of leadership. It’s a great paradox. Because of Jesus, Christians are free, subject to no one. In response to that freedom, Christians are dutiful servants of all, subject to everyone.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive me for desiring to be served. Give me opportunities to serve in your name. Amen.

“We are going up to Jerusalem,” [Jesus] said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Mark 10:33,34

The Hard Way Was the Only Way

Daily Devotion – October 21, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:33,34


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Do you ever watch people doing something and realize they are doing it the hard way? You wonder how much better their life would be if they were to figure out the easy way of doing it.

Jesus explained to his disciples what it would take to earn their salvation, and it must have looked like the hard way to them. Surely, he could stay away from Jerusalem, where all his enemies were gathered! There was no reason to let them condemn him, mock and spit on him, flog and kill him, was there? How much easier the life of Jesus would have been if he could have found a way to avoid such suffering.

But when it came to your salvation, the hard way was the only way. Someone had to live a perfect life in your place. Someone had to die to take the punishment for your sin. Someone had to fulfill all the prophecies. Someone had to make the selfless sacrifices for his disciples, including you.

Jesus knew he would rise from the dead, and he wanted you to join him in the resurrection. He did everything the hard way so that your life would be better right now. You have peace with God. He did everything the hard way so that your life would be better in the future. You will live forever with him.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for suffering to bring me to glory. Amen.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:23

For the Sake of the Truth

Daily Devotion – October 20, 2024

Devotion based on1 Corinthians 9:23


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His name was William Charles Macready. In the 1800s, William Macready was one of the most respected actors in Great Britain and the United States. In each stage performance, Macready poured his heart and soul into the character he was portraying. People loved him for it. They packed the theaters to see him at work.

It’s said that there once was a preacher who approached Macready with a simple question. The question was: “What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all.”

Macready’s answer was this: “I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction.”

Ouch.

Don’t misunderstand. The Bible is clear that the power to bring hearts to faith in Jesus lies in the power of the gospel—the good news of what Jesus has done on our behalf. Nevertheless, how many times have Christians put a roadblock in front of the gospel by acting as if it’s fiction?

The beauty is that, despite our lack of passion and our bouts of apathy, the gospel remains the most true and real thing there is. After all, whenever the reality of our wrongs crushes us, and we cry out in repentance, there is the gospel. There is the living, breathing Savior who promises that his blood has washed us clean, that we are his, and that he will never leave our side.

Macready did all he could for the sake of fiction. In Jesus, you and I can do all we can for the sake of the truth—the truth of sins forgiven in Christ.

Prayer:
Precious Savior, I confess all the times I have shared your good news so poorly. Forgive me. And empower me by your gospel to do all I can for the sake of the truth. Amen.

Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16

Our Perfect Substitute

Daily Devotion – October 19, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 4:14-16


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I remember being a teenager and believing, “My parents just don’t understand. They don’t know what it’s like to be me. They don’t understand the pressure to be popular, the pain of gossip, and the shame of being left out.” I didn’t realize that my parents still remembered what it was like to be a teenager.

I have young children, and the cycle continues. They can’t believe that I can remember how hard it is to be a kid. But I do. I do know what they are going through.

On a much higher level, we struggle to believe that the almighty God knows what it’s like to be human. So, we struggle to pray to God with transparency because it’s difficult to understand how he can relate to our pain.

That is why we love these words from Hebrews chapter 4. The writer says that Jesus is our High Priest. That means Jesus is the mediator between us and our heavenly Father. But he is not a high priest that is out of touch with our feelings. Jesus came into this world and experienced everything we do. He was tempted in every way that we are.

The only difference: Jesus did not sin.

The writer reminds us of Jesus’ holiness, not to shame us but to encourage us. Jesus is our perfect substitute and Savior. Jesus gives us his perfect record as a gift. Therefore, we can approach God with absolute confidence. We can tell him what we struggle with and all our guilt and pain. He hears us and even empathizes with us. And most of all, he forgives us.

Prayer:
Lord God, you know what it’s like to be misunderstood, even hated. You know what it’s like to be tempted. I pray that you would both forgive my sins and lead me to walk in your ways. And I will give you all the glory. Amen.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17

Making a Difference

Daily Devotion – October 18, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 90:17


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“You can do anything you set your mind to.” This quote, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, has been echoed in countless self-help books, whether they are about career goals, financial success, physical fitness, or strategies for winning on the field or court. It is repeated and rephrased in hundreds of commencement addresses every year.

But experience teaches us that it is not true. No matter how much we set our minds to it, few of us have the gifts to play in the NFL or win an Olympic gold medal. The greatest minds in the world may never find a cure for cancer or even a way to eliminate the flu or the common cold.

Psalm 90 is about the brevity of life in this world. Our mortality is a result of the sin in our hearts. Sin foolishly makes me think I can do whatever I set my mind to. I’m in charge. I call the shots. I am my own god. How arrogant!

Thankfully, God sent his Son, whose hands were gentle, to selflessly help us in our sinful arrogance. His hands accepted the guilt for our pride as they were stretched out on a cross to die. He showed those nail-pierced hands to his followers after he had defeated death and been raised to life. Now his hands are lifted up to bless us with his favor and forgiveness every day.

Because of the work of God’s hands, we use our hands not to serve ourselves, not to build our own kingdom that will just pass away, but to serve our eternal, loving God. We pray with Moses, “Establish the work of our hands for us.” Help us live a life that matters. Move our hands to scroll or page through your Word to see your favor and learn what love looks like. Move our hands to cling to your promises and not our achievements. Fold our hands in prayer for those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior. And extend our hands to help someone in need to show them the love of Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, establish the work of our hands, that we may do what matters for eternity. Amen.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom . . . Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:12,14

You Only Live Once

Daily Devotion – October 17, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 90:12,14


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YOLO—You only live once. Take chances; make the most of every day; do what makes you happy because “you only live once.”

One of the thoughts behind this slogan is a very biblical one. Life is short. You never know when your time in this world will come to an end. Your own death or Jesus’ return on the Last Day could come at any time. Remembering this shapes how you live your life.

A man named Moses had seen a lot of death in his life. He was very aware of his own mortality. He rightly saw death as a reminder of the sinfulness of mankind and the reality of God’s judgment. And so, he prayed for wisdom: “Teach us to number our days, Lord. Don’t let us forget that this life is short or that this life is not all there is.”

The Bible teaches us to live life with an eternal perspective and to prioritize what prepares us for what comes after this life. And this is where YOLO usually falls short. Living for the moment, doing only what makes you feel good, and putting yourself first leave us unprepared to stand before God. That’s because God’s law demands that we live our lives not for ourselves but for him and those around us.

And so, Moses prayed, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” God’s unfailing love satisfies us like nothing else can because it gives us certainty for eternity. In unfailing love, God sent Jesus to break the curse of sin and overcome death. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God forgives our selfish shortsightedness and our misplaced priorities. Because of his unfailing love, we can sing for joy and be glad all our days. We can face life and death without fear. We can live each day to serve God, knowing that he has a better life prepared for us, where we only live once, but that life lasts forever.

Prayer:
Lord may your unfailing love move me to live for you every day. Amen.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12,13

True Priorities Exposed

Daily Devotion – October 16, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 4:12,13


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“I didn’t mean to.” It’s one of the classic defenses children give when caught doing something wrong. “Johnny, you broke the cookie jar that you weren’t even supposed to touch.” And Johnny says, “I didn’t mean to.”

Do we ever really outgrow that excuse? We might not say it in quite the same way, but “I didn’t mean to” can become a coverup for everything from gossip to angry words to drug or alcohol abuse to pornography or intimacy gone too far outside of marriage. But the truth is, rarely are our thoughts and intentions pure. We may not have intended for things to turn out the way they did, but what we did was no accident.

Maybe we can fool the people around us, but God and his Word are not fooled. God’s Word “penetrates.” It doesn’t just look at the surface. It exposes the heart. It uncovers selfish motives and priorities and lays them out as evidence before the God to whom we must answer.

What thoughts and attitudes does God’s Word expose in your heart? How does it show priorities that don’t put God first in your life? Confess those things. Come clean.

And then see God’s Word expose God’s heart for you. God’s priority was to make a way for you to live with him forever. He did that by giving Jesus as the sacrifice to cover all your sinful priorities and actions. Now God’s priority is to make sure you see that sinless sacrifice as your own, to plant and grow faith deep in your heart, and to lay hold of his forgiveness and the life he wants to give you. That’s why he wants his Word to be a priority for you—because you are a priority for him.

Prayer:
Lord, help me make your Word a priority in my life; there I see your loving, forgiving heart. Amen.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Mark 10:27

Impossible

Daily Devotion – October 15, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:27


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Impossible. What Jesus was asking seemed completely unreasonable. The man he was talking to was a model citizen. But the problem was that he loved his money; it was the most important thing in his life. And God demands undivided allegiance. Put God number one in your life all the time, and eternal life will be yours.

Who can do that? That’s impossible! So many things demand our attention. How can we possibly keep God first one hundred percent of the time? And when we realize how impossible it is, God has us where he wants us.

He wants us to see that what is impossible with man is possible with God. No, I can’t love God with all my heart, soul, and mind, but Jesus did. No, I can’t resist the allure of wealth and worldly possessions, but Jesus did. No, I can’t keep all of God’s commandments, not only with my actions but also with my heart and mind, but Jesus did. No, I can’t earn heaven—and neither can you—but Jesus did.

In shattering our pride and breaking down our self-reliance, Jesus gives us something far more firm and certain. He gives us himself. He invites us to follow him, to watch him die willingly to pay for our sins, to watch him rise from the dead to seal our salvation, to watch him ascend into heaven to prepare a place for us in his kingdom, to wait for his return to take us into the treasures of heaven to which no earthly wealth compares. Jesus, whose holiness, power, and love are without limit, has done the impossible, reconciling us sinners with a holy God, and winning heaven for us.

Now, the answer to who can inherit eternal life changes completely, doesn’t it? Because that inheritance rests in God’s hands, the kingdom of heaven is open to all. Because it depends on the perfect, almighty, and all-loving Son of God, no one is excluded from God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life.

Who then can be saved? You can. I can. With man, this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for doing the impossible so that I can inherit eternal life with you. Amen.

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Mark 10:21

Treasure in Heaven

Daily Devotion – October 14, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:21


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Riches come in many shapes and sizes. One person treasures the blessing of family. Another person lives to exercise and compete. Still another loves to watch others compete and lives or dies with their favorite team or athlete. Some may value their home, car, work, music, grades, recreation, and on and on.

What treasures do you live for? What would you give up to get them or keep them? What do you think would happen if you lost them?

The reality that we hate to admit is that many of the things we treasure won’t last. As wonderful as these blessings are, as thankful as we are for them, they aren’t what matters most.

Jesus once met a man who was trying to be the best version of himself. He worked hard to be a good person. Along the way, he was blessed with great wealth. Slowly, his wealth and possessions became more and more important to him.

The Bible says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” He loved him enough to point out that the treasures he was holding onto weren’t the real treasure. In fact, they were standing in the way of the real treasure.

In love, Jesus urged him to give all of it up so that he could receive what Jesus wanted to give him—a free gift, treasure in heaven. We can’t work for that treasure. It can’t be bought or sold with money. Jesus bought it for us with his innocent blood and his sinless death.

It’s a life of perfect, eternal joy, satisfaction, and purpose. It’s a life free from pain, want, and fear. It’s a life that lasts forever. Jesus gives you that treasure, as he tells you in the Bible how he bought it for you and leads you to believe that his promises are true. Listen as he speaks and receive the treasure that lasts forever. Don’t let anything stand in the way of it!

Prayer:
Jesus, take away the treasures in my life that stand in the way of my greatest treasure—life with you in heaven. Amen.