BibleDiscipleship

The Path to Being First in Jesus’ Eyes

Mark 9 contains a reminder that most of us need to hear at the beginning of a new work week.

And they came to Capernaum. And when [Jesus] was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 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.” (Mark 9:33-35)

Want to be “first” in the eyes of Jesus this week? Be a servant. As Paul encouraged disciples of Jesus:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:3-7)

“Have this mind among yourselves.” If anyone would be first, he must begin with the mindset of Christ Jesus. “Though he was in the form of God,” he came “not to be served, but to serve” (Matt 20:28). If any one of us would be “first” in his eyes, we must resolve to do the same.

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