Devotionals for December 20, 2023
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READ
Mark 9:33-37
33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
REFLECT
Long shot here, but I imagine that Jesus already knew what the disciples were discussing before asking them. Jesus’ question produced an Adam-like response in his disciples who, instead of answering, hide. Jesus does not let them off the hook. His response to their silly arguments about greatness is not to eschew it, but to define it. Our image of what it means to be a success is very different from God’s. The champion of the Christian life is the one who is content to go unnoticed. Is it difficult to think this way? For me it is! I find myself fantasizing about accomplishing “great things,” and being noticed by many as a powerful man of God. My fantasies, ironically, always have me as the hero. Indeed, this image of greatness does not require the work of God at all, and that is the problem. In our overworking there is an underlying reliance on our own effort to acheive significance. Jesus is telling us that there is another way, a better way. We can rest in him knowing that, even if we go unnoticed on this side of eternity, every act of righteousness and love carries eternal significance to God and will bring us the greatest reward imaginable, himself.
APPLY
Q: Why do you think Jesus uses a child as an example in this passage?
Q: Where do you need to give up striving and rest?
Q: How does your insight, advice, or encouragement of a fellow believer change if this passage is applied?
Q: Where do you need to give up striving and rest?
Q: How does your insight, advice, or encouragement of a fellow believer change if this passage is applied?
SING
PRAY
"Give us today our daily bread."
Lord help us to be content with what we have rather than striving for what we do not have. Amen.
Lord help us to be content with what we have rather than striving for what we do not have. Amen.