From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Mon, Jan 9, 2023 at 6:08 AM
Subject: 1-9-23 THOUGHTS
1-9-23 THOUGHTS
There is a certain irony in the reading below. The Son of God is telling his disciples that He is about to die. This is set against a request to be greatest in the kingdom. I think to myself, how can I truly see the “Glory of God” and behave like I do at times? In the “presence of God”, how dare I lift up myself? Jesus said “It is not this way among you”. Gal 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Our “giving God” desires giving children!
Matt 20:17-28 As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."
20 ¶ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left." 22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."
24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
My Prayer:
O God of all we can imagine, keep us humble and joyfully selfless, as we serve you in this world. As we awaken with eternal hope, may we remember You who have authored that hope! Mature our love away from self and teach us to seek the benefit of others. Help us to rejoice in this thinking pattern and see its rightness. It is from You, O Father. Please bless our day and our week. In our loving, may we bear fruit for the kingdom. In the name of Jesus, Amen.