MONDAY, APRIL 24
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Matthew 20:17-28

"He that glorieth, let him
glory in the Lord."

NOT GREATNESS BUT LOWLINESS (I) (TIMOTHY TOW)

"The desire to dominate over others, to be great, is the way of the sinful world. It gives one more pay, power and prestige. This desire invades the Church, for though we are saved we still have the old sinful nature. We see this in Mrs. Zebedee the mother of James and John. The mother of James and John asked of Jesus that her two sons might sit one on the right and the other on the left in His Kingdom. When the rest of the apostles heard it they were filled with indignation.

This rivalry for leadership went on unabated. In Luke 22:24-27, it is recorded, ‘And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.’

Returning to our main text where the apostles were angry with James and John seeking dominance over them, Jesus answered them saying, ‘Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with (i.e. to die with me)?’ They rashly said ‘Yes.’

Jesus replied, ‘Ye shall drink indeed of my cup and be baptized with the baptism.’ This prediction is first fulfilled by James in Acts 12:1-2…. This was the first martyrdom…. The last happened to John after his imprisonment on the Isle of Patmos. To sit one on the right and the other on the left for James and John was not for Christ to give, but to die for His sake was God’s appointment…"

THOUGHT: I must prefer my brethren above myself.
PRAYER: Lord, grant me the mind of Christ.