The Weekly Word - A Devotion for the Week of November 13
God delights in our humility and doesn’t want us struggling with our pride.
In this passage in Mark, Jesus asks the disciples what they were discussing on the way to Capernaum. The disciples answered in silence because they knew Jesus would be disappointed in the topic of their conversation. In verse 34, it says, “For on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.” Jesus then addresses their sense of pride and their pride toward one another.
We all struggle with pride every now and again. The disciples were no different; they were humans just like me and you. Jesus shares a fundamental truth that has the power to alter our understanding of leadership and greatness. He says, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” The words of Jesus not only serve as a response to the disciples’ dispute but as a timeless lesson for all of us.
In today’s society, it’s so easy to get caught up in the desire for recognition and applause because of the way we measure greatness. We think power, wealth, or influence will get us to the top of the ladder of success, but those ideals can cause us to neglect Jesus’s teachings of humility, compassion, and selfless service.
Greatness is not found in praising ourselves above others but in serving others with love and compassion. It is in the act of selfless service that we truly reflect the heart of Christ and fulfill our purpose as His followers.
Let us be mindful of our attitudes, actions, and intentions, and remember Christ’s servant-heartedness.