The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 24 July 2021 – TOPIC: SEEK TO SERVE THAN TO BE SERVED

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TOPIC: SEEK TO SERVE THAN TO BE SERVED*READ: MARK 10:35 -45 (NKJV)35. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”36. And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”37. They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”38. But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”39. They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;40. “but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but [it is for those] for whom it is prepared.”41. And when the ten heard [it,] they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.42. But Jesus called them to [Himself] and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.43. “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.44. “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.45. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”*THE MESSAGE:* Saint days’ are set aside to remember the contributions of some of the saints triumphant to the advancement of the Gospel. According to modern traditions, there were three James in the New Testament: James the Apostle, who is the brother of the Lord; James the Great, and James the Less, the son of Alphaeus. In our text today, James the Great, a son of Zebedee and his brother John, nursed the ambition of sitting both at the right and left hands of the Lord Jesus Christ in His glory. They desired thrones for themselves in the way the Gentiles rule over their own people (verse 42). Their request seemed to have been motivated by self-interest, so, a rift developed between them and other disciples. The Lord Jesus Christ quickly intervened by teaching them to seek to serve than to be served.There are people today who seek God’s power and His anointing. Others seek positions of leadership in the house of God. But for what purposes? It is not evil to desire positions. For… if a man desires the position of a Bishop, he desires a good work (1 Timothy 3:1b). And, Apostle Paul asks us to earnestly desire the best gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31a), but it is for the purpose of service in love. So, if you desire a position in God’s house, let it not be motivated by self- interest but by the desire to serve.*PRAYER:* Dear Jesus, help me to continually be motivated by the desire to serve and not to be served.