<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="mr+10:13-31">Mark 10:13-31</span></span></p><p>Today we ask ourselves: If happiness is not something we can create but something we receive, how do we go about receiving it? Listen again to the words of Jesus: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? There are those who tell us that the words should read, "Blessed in spirit are the poor" - an idea derived from  <span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+6:20">Luke 6:20</span>, which reads: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." Our Lord, however, is not thinking here of material poverty, but spiritual poverty: "Blessed are the poor in spirit." The word for "poor" in the Greek is ptochos and refers to a chosen poverty. It implies a voluntary emptying of the inner being and is used of those who by choice are so poor that they become poor enough to receive. One translation puts it: "Blessed are those who are receptive in spirit" - those who are willing to empty their hands of their own possessions and have them filled with the riches of God. Jesus' first prescription for happiness, then, is a voluntary act of self-renunciation. This reverses the usual prescriptions for happiness, which begin with words such as "assert", "take", "release" or "affirm". The first step, therefore toward mental and spiritual health is self-renunciation. It is the decision we must take to reach out and receive Christ - with empty hands. Note that - with empty hands. The reason why so many fail to find Christ is because they are so unreceptive. Christ cannot give Himself to them because they do not give themselves to Him. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, help me to fling everything else away so that I might find You. I will take this first prescription: I will be humble enough to acknowledge my need and receive. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mr+9:30-37">Mark 9:30-37</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+10:40">Matthew 10:40</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+8:40">Luke 8:40</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+1:12">John 1:12</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What was the attitude of the disciples?</li><li>What was Jesus' response?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (v. 15)

<p>They had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” § Be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.<br><br>Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who … made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men … Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.<br><br>Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Evening Daily Light

 One star differs from another star in glory. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">35 </sup>Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, <woj>“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  </woj> </span></p>

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, <woj>“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”<cr>1</cr> </woj>

Mark 9:35

 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 

<p><span class="bible-text ">Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, <woj>“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  </woj> </span></p>

 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  

Bible Verse of the Day

January 19, 2000

Mark 9:35 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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