MAY 19

Mark 10:42-45
Memorise Mark 10:45
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Given the choice between spending a week helping out at a children’s camp or on vacation at a holiday resort, I would, most of the time, choose the latter. In fact, given the choice between spending the week working on these RPG readings, or just enjoying my holidays and doing what I like to do, I might be tempted to choose the latter! Sadly, as human beings,our sinful nature would always cause us to have a me-first attitude. What do I enjoy doing? How would I like to spend my time? What can I do to have a fun time?

No greater example do we have than our Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was fully God, He was at the same time the “Son of man”, too – the Bible tells us that He could be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities”, and “was in all points tempted like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). Did He succumb to the fleshly desires and temptations, though? No, not at all! He came into this world fully conscious of the horrors of the suffering and death that awaited Him. Yet, He never lost sight of His mission: “not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”. Though He was the Son of God, He did not expect to be served or ministered to while He was on earth. Instead, He “took upon him the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7), labouring tirelessly night and day to preach the gospel and serve others. Even when He was rejected by many, He persevered in His ministry and never gave up. What great love, and what great humility! And His ultimate act of love was in how He gave “his life a ransom for many”. Was it easy? No! Was it painful and agonizing?
Yes! But did He still do it? Of course!

If Jesus had not died for us on the cross, would we be able to enjoy salvation grace? Dear teen, can you still say, then, that you do not feel like serving others? Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, gave up heaven’s glory in order that He might die on the cross for our sins, to save wretched sinners like you and me! If He could do so
much for you, is it not the least you can do to serve others?

Thought: “I gave, I gave, My life for thee; what hast thou given for Me?”
Prayer: Lord, help me to love and serve others with the same love You have for me!