ODJ: living counter-naturally
October 10, 2010
Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes not only Me but also My Father who sent Me (v.37)
READ: Mark 9:30-37
My family was eating at a mall food court. My middle son couldn’t finish all of his food, so he got up to find a take-home box. After being gone for quite a while, he finally returned. When we asked him why it had taken him so long, he told us that customers kept jumping in front of him and that the servers kept looking over him. As I held back my tears, I told him about a child in the Bible that Jesus didn’t overlook.
Jesus was discussing His upcoming betrayal and death, but His disciples didn’t get it. It’s likely they failed to grasp Jesus’ words due to the fact that they were busy arguing over who was going to be the greatest (Mark 9:34). Sitting down, Jesus taught them a vital discipleship principle—greatness is open to everyone, all who are willing to be last and a slave to all (v.35).
His point was that His kingdom is about position—the lowest one. Then He drove home the point with a powerful and literal illustration. He placed a child—a culturally helpless, emotionally vulnerable, and socially invisible child—among the disciples, embraced him, and challenged them to welcome him in His name. In welcoming him, they would be welcoming the Father. Jesus was teaching that greatness in the kingdom of God is all about ministering, especially to those of lower status.
Because Jesus led through suffering and humility, we’re called to lead through serving instead of being served. Jesus wants us to embrace humility instead of pride, and to be first to serve the culturally vulnerable instead of the socially powerful. We can live out this counter-natural principle by repenting of our status-consciousness state, entering the world of suffering with the sufferer, embracing the socially invisible, and by serving people intentionally and unexpectedly. —Marvin Williams
What does it mean to welcome someone in Jesus’ name? How can you do that in your everyday actions and attitudes?
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
ODB: Called From
January 10, 2011 READ: Genesis 12:1-9 The Lord had said to Abram, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” —Genesis 12:1 One of the smartest people I know is a college friend who became a Christian while studying at a state [...]
ODJ: chutzpah
April 26, 2010 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed (v.28). READ: Matthew 15:21-28 When I was growing up, my father kept one can of WD-40 in the house and another in his car. It seemed it was the be-all and end-all for [...]
ODB: change your mind
July 25, 2009 READ: Acts 26:12-23 . . . repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. —Acts 26:20 One of my favorite Peanuts comic strips features Charlie Brown saying to Snoopy, “I hear you’re writing a book on theology. I hope you have a good title.” Snoopy responds, “I have the perfect title: [...]
ODJ: larger than our fear
August 30, 2009 Do not be afraid, for I am with you (v.24). READ: Genesis 26:1-11,19-25 I have two boys who are afraid of assorted things: dentists, dark rooms, green peas. Our most recent bout surfaced when our first-grader refused to walk into his classroom by himself. When he balked, I was tempted to point out [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米