Monday 16 Dec 2013

Monday Reading: Matthew 20:20-23

Key Verse: Matthew 20:23
So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; 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 by My Father.”

Devotion:
When the mother of Zebedee’s children came forward to ask if her children could sit on either side of Christ in heaven, I don’t think she realised just how much she was actually asking of Christ. So many times we look to ways in which we can promote ourselves because we either seek the fame through pride or we seek recognition for the work we think we are doing. I say ‘think’ because we often get carried away with the idea of how much we are doing.

On the other hand, when we come forward with a humble heart and attitude being willing to serve others and continue to promote others instead of ourselves, we may find that we can go much further than promoting ourselves. When Jesus said that the James and John (being the sons of Zebedee) would have to go through what He would go through they may have wished not if they knew what lay ahead. By the same token if we know what is ahead of us when we pick up the banner for Christ and serve Him, we may not wish to get too involved.

As Christians we should be prepared to face what the heathen will do to us just because they do not want to be called sinners and do not want to have to be blamed for anything that they do wrong against God. Man would rather others be blamed for what goes wrong in the world instead of accepting responsibility. Man does not want to have any guilt associated with what he does because that would mean having to give up on those unjust deeds.

God is the only one who has the power to say what should happen to us because we are His creation. We can ask all we wish of others and even of people in power, but it is God who has the final say. If we are willing to step forward and be called children of God then we should also be willing to take on what others will dish out to get out of being blamed themselves. Yes we can point things out as much as we like, but that does not mean that man will accept God’s ways and rules without argument!

Points to Ponder:
Do you like being called a child of God?

Are you willing to put up with what comes with that title?