The Story of Jesus
I was asked this question many times by young adults while serving as director of youth and family ministries for a denomination years ago, “How did you get this job? What do I have to do to be who and where you are?” The first time I was seriously asked this question, it made me stop and think about how that happened. I took these questions to heart, stepped back a little to evaluate the path God took me to end where I was at that time. I remember beginning with I served as a volunteer for over twenty years in youth ministry of some nature, served my church as a teacher and leader, sought God will daily and loved to learn. Basically, I served. I did not “go after this job”, I was merely asked to serve again in a different way and place. I would end with, “So, do you want to serve?” “How is your serve now?”
I am glad for those questions by young adults because maybe that meant I was making my particular ministry job look enjoyable enough for them to do it, too. What they did not see was all the hours of “down on my knees” praying, stepping out of the box and getting hammered with criticism by well meaning churchies, and spending hours away from family on the road to helping others know Christ more and how to teach like He teaches us…with passion, unconditional love, mercy and grace for His students. I made mistakes, but I repented and kept following the Master Teacher with all that was within me. I loved to serve Him by serving others.
Where did I get those responses? From this story. From the story of Jesus telling/teaching His disciples, “I came to serve”.
Are we willing to drink from the cup of Jesus? Your answer matters.
To Drink from the Cup – Matthew 20, Msg
17-19 Jesus, now well on the way up to Jerusalem, took the Twelve off to the side of the road and said, “Listen to me carefully. We are on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. They will then hand him over to the Romans for mockery and torture and crucifixion. On the third day he will be raised up alive.”
20 It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request.
21 “What do you want?” Jesus asked.
She said, “Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand.”
22 Jesus responded, “You have no idea what you’re asking.” And he said to James and John, “Are you capable of drinking the cup that I’m about to drink?”
They said, “Sure, why not?”
23 Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. My Father is taking care of that.”
24-28 When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”
Are we willing to drink from the cup of Jesus? Your answer matters when it comes to the motive of why you serve.
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word takes me back a bit in time to another place of serving that brings me forward to where I serve You now. Your Word, full of reminders of who we are in You is amazing, convicting, challenging and refreshing for our souls. Thank you for Your Word that breathes life to us. We love you. We serve You with gladness and thanksgiving. Keep moving us on to be closer to You, serving in Your Name. We accept the cup. To You be all glory, honor and praise! In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 