MATTHEW 20:20-28 – Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

THEME OF THE DAY: TAKE THE BACKSEAT.  It can happen to the best of us. I mean if it could happen to the sons of Zebedee, John and James, choice disciples of the Lord Jesus, we are not immune to it either.  In fact, this will be a battle all the days of our lives.  This “it” is pride and manifested in today’s scripture with John and James.  They used their mother to jockey for the highest position possible in the Lord’s service – at His right and left hand.  This was all about being above everyone else and being served, not serving.  And such wrong ambition caused division among the disciples – And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. That is one of the sad results when pride rules in God’s people.

Jesus would address their pride problem, not with a rebuke, but by way of instruction.  The mark of His true servants is not by position of authority, being served, or of recognition.   He said, “Whoever would be first among you must be your slave.”  A slave.  No rights. No independence.  Totally at the instruction of his or her master.  Christ’s slaves take the backseat, not sometime, but all the time. They seek no attention. They don’t thirst for recognition. They shed praise looking to have it directed to the One truly worthy – the Lord Jesus.

So, how would we know if we are taking the backseat in our position and service before the Lord?  One word – contented.  We would be okay with not being recognized, praised, or given positions of authority. We simply would find our contentment right where the Lord has us, not in the driver seat, but in the back seat in our service for Him.

PRAYER: “Father, help me not to seek the praise of people but live only for You.”

QUOTE: “Be content where God has you right now and serve Him wholeheartedly there.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim