What is true greatness?In the kingdom of this world, the great man is the one who has risen to a place of wealth and power. He has a retinue of aides and assistants, conditioned to follow his orders. He is accorded V.I.P. treatment and receives special favors wherever he goes. People regard him with respect and awe because of his rank. He never has to stoop to anything menial; there are always others to do that for him.But in the Kingdom of our Lord, things are quite different. Here greatness is measured by the extent to which we serve rather than the extent to which we are served. The great man is the one who stoops to become a slave for others. No service is too menial. He does not expect any special treatment or thanks. When one of George Washington's men saw him performing a menial service, he objected, saying, "General, you are too big a man to be doing that." Washington replied, "Oh, no, I'm just the right size."Commenting on Luke 17:7-10, Roy Hession reminds us that "there are five marks of the bondslave: (1) He must be willing to have one thing on top of another put on him, without any consideration being given to him. (2) In doing this, he must be willing not to be thanked for it. (3) Having done all this, he must not charge the master with selfishness. (4) He must confess that he is an unprofitable servant. (5) He must admit that doing and bearing what he has in the way of meekness and humility, he has not done one stitch more than it was his duty to do."When our Lord left the heights of glory to become a Man on this planet, he "took upon him the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7). He was among us as One who serves (Luke 22:27). He said, "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). He girded Himself with a towel, the apron of a slave, and washed His disciples' feet (John 13:1-17)."The servant is not greater than his lord" (John 13:16). If He stooped so low to serve us, why should we think it beneath our dignity to serve others?Wast Thou, Savior, meek and lowly,And will such a worm as I,Weak and sinful and unholyDare to lift my head on high?

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"…whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." (Matthew 20:26-27)

Luke 14:1-14"One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, He was being carefully watched." Our Savior did not refuse any invitation to a proper social function. His example is important for us. He wants His people to be IN the world, though not OF the world. He does not desire us to withdraw from men - but to live with them in life's common relations, only being careful all the while - that we live the true life as citizens of heaven. We are to be the salt of the earth - our influence tending to purify and sweeten the life about us. We are to be the light of the world - shedding brightness upon earth's darkness, helping weakness, comforting sorrow.John the Baptist would not have accepted the invitation of this Pharisee. He was an ascetic. His theory of life required him to keep out of the world, witnessing against its evil, by withdrawing from it. But Jesus did not follow John in this. He gave men a new type of religion. His first public act, after returning from His temptation, was to accept an invitation to a wedding feast. His theory of life was that the truest and most effective protest against the world's evil - may be made from within, by living a holy, godly, and beautiful life - in the midst of the world's evil.Jesus had a reason for accepting social courtesies. He wished to show the divine sympathy with all human life. We used to be told that He often wept - but never smiled. But we cannot think of Jesus never smiling. His whole life was one of gladness. He went among men - that they might know He was interested in their lives.Life was not easy for most people in our Lord's day. Their work was hard, and they were not kindly treated by those who employed them. Their burdens were heavy. They were poorly paid. Jesus wanted them to know that He was their friend; that He cared for them, sympathized with them. He was ready for every opportunity to get near to them, that He might do them good. When He attended dinners, feasts, or weddings - He was not satisfied merely to eat and talk over the empty trivialities which are usually discussed around the table on such occasions. He found time always - to say some serious, thoughtful words, among the lighter things - which those who heard Him would not forget. Some of His most important teachings were given at feasts.We scarcely know why this Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him. We cannot suppose that it was really a cordial, friendly invitation; that he wished either to honor Jesus or to have the pleasure and privilege of entertaining Him and hearing His profitable conversation. Possibly it was a sinister motive which led him to give the invitation - a plot to get Jesus near to him, that he might catch Him in His words - or lead Him to do something or say something which could be used against Him. It may be that the presence of the man with the dropsy that day - was part of the same evil intention. It was on the Sabbath, and if Jesus would heal this man on that day, there would then be cause for criticism, such healing being considered by the Pharisees, a desecration of the Sabbath. Of course, the sick man may have come in of his own accord, drawn perhaps by the hope that Jesus would hear him. But there is room for the suspicion that his being present that day, was part of a scheme to get Jesus to violate the Sabbath rules, as they were interpreted by the scribes.Jesus was not afraid of any such plots. He never thought about expediency or diplomacy, when an opportunity for doing good came His way. We are told that He "answering spoke." What did He answer? No question was asked Him, so far as we are told. Evidently He answered the thoughts of the lawyers and Pharisees who were watching to see if He would heal the sick man. Jesus is always aware of what is going on within us. Our thoughts are as open to Him - as our acts are to our neighbors! We should not forget this when our thoughts and feelings, are not what they should be.The question Jesus asked brought up the subject of Sabbath healing. The Jews considered it wrong. But they did not care to answer Him just now - so "they held their peace." They wanted Him to heal the man, that they might bring their charge against Him. Jesus healed the man. Thus He teaches us to think for ourselves in matters of duty - and not to be influence by what we suppose other people will say. Too many people take their moralities largely from the opinions of others, doing this and not doing that, to meet the approval of others. But that was not the way Jesus did. His rule of life - was God's opinion. "I do always the things that are pleasing to Him." That should be our rule of life.Jesus asked another question. "If one of you has an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" This question His critics would not answer. They admitted that it was right to relive a dumb animal in such a plight. But if it was right on the Sabbath to help an ox out of a pit - how could it be wrong to help a suffering man out of his trouble on the same holy day? Surely a man is worth more than an ox, dearer in God's sight, and we should be more willing to relieve a man than an ox. Thus Jesus stripped the Sabbath of the disfigurement which human hands had put upon it, and set it forth in its beauty, what God meant it to be when He first gave it to man.There was another lesson which Jesus wanted to teach that day. So He "put forth a parable." He had noticed that as they took their places at the dinner, the guests scrambled for the best places at the table, the seats of honor. There is much of this same spirit yet in the world. One sees it on railway trains, on steamers in hotels and boarding houses, almost everywhere. Nearly everybody wants the best - and scrambles to get it. Sometimes it is seen, too, where members of families try to get the choicest things on the table, the most comfortable seat, or the brightest, airiest room. Often bitter strife occurs, and harsh wrangles take place between brothers and sisters - each demanding the best. It will be wise to study this lesson very carefully and to apply it to ourselves - the kind of application we should always make first in studying Christ's words .Jesus said, "When someone invites you to a wedding feast - do not take the place of honor ." We would say that common politeness would prevent any guest at a dinner from rushing for the seat of honor. It is understood in all refined society, that these favored places are for the guests who are specially honored that day. Even these guests, though they know they are to have the distinction, do not take their places unbidden - but wait to be invited to them. "But when you are invited, take the lowest place," said the Master further.<div class="center-it mtb10">Thus the religion of Christ teaches the most beautiful humility and courtesy. We are not too seek to be ministered unto - but to minister (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45); not to get distinction and praise - but to live humbly and quietly .</div>Kossuth said that of all natural emblems, he would choose the DEW as the emblem for his life. It makes no noise, seeks no praise, writes no record - but is content to sink away and be lost in the flowers and grass blades, and to be remembered only in the fresh beauty and sweetness it imparts to all nature.Those who always demand that they shall be recognized and that their names shall be attached to everything they do, have not learned the mind of Christ. Our aim should be to seek to have Christ honored, then to do good to others, and to be remembered only in the blessing and good which we leave in other lives."For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Jesus tells us, further, that those who look after their own honor - shall fail to be honored, while those who live humbly, modestly, without seeking distinction or praise, shall receive the best promotions.The last teaching of the passage is also very important. "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind - and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Mary Lyon used to say to her graduates, "Go where nobody else wants to go - and do what nobody else wants to do." That is another version of the teaching of Jesus here. The rich have plenty of invitations - Christian love should seek to give pleasure to those who do not have much of it. If you are at a party, and there is one person present who seems to get no attention, that is the one whom, according to our Lord's teaching here, you should be most interested in and should take particular pains to make happy. Among your neighbors are some who have many things to make up their enjoyment - friends, money, health, books, social opportunities. But there are others who lack in these regards. While you are to love all your neighbors, your love should show itself especially toward the latter class - those who have less and who need you more.

A unique type of devotional from the writings of James Russell Miller, published between 1908 and 1913.

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

Luke 14:1-14

Jesus Dines with a Pharisee

Matthew 20:17-34Jesus was setting out for Jerusalem on His last journey. Did He not know that He was going straight into danger? He was safe in Perea; why did He not stay there? Why did He leave this shelter - and go straight into the den of lions at Jerusalem? He knew all that awaited Him - but He did not shrink from it; He resolutely set His face to go, because it was the way marked out for Him. The picture shows Him hastening on, as Mark tells us, "They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way." (10:32). It were as if He were eager to reach the city and endure what lay before Him there, and could scarcely wait for the slow steps of the disciples.<div class="center-it mtb10">Why was Jesus so eager to suffer ? It was because His time had come, and He was eager to do the Father's will. Besides, it was the receiving up to heaven which He saw, and the cross and darkness were forgotten, in the triumph and glory beyond. "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2). There ought to be wondrous inspiration in Christ's example here, for all who are called to suffer and endure affliction for His sake. We should be eager to do God's will, however hard it may be; and we should train ourselves to look beyond the suffering and the trial - to the blessing and joy that will come after.</div>He took the disciples apart and told them what lay before Him. "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified!" Jesus knew, when no others saw it, that the blackness of the cross was approaching Him and would overwhelm Him, and knew the very moment He would enter it.One of Holman Hunt's pictures represents Jesus as a boy in the carpenter shop. It is evening, and He is weary. Stretching out His arms, the light of the setting sun, shining in from the west, casts its shadow on the floor of the shop, and lo - it is in the form of a cross fell upon Jesus, that from the beginning He was conscious of the fact that He must die by crucifixion. What a pathos it adds to the life of Christ to remember this: that all the time, in the midst of His human joys, while He was scattering blessings among others, while He was working miracles of mercy ; in all the holy peace and calm of His soul - that dark shadow hung over Him continually! He was going at last to be crucified! Yet the consciousness never kept Him from speaking one gentle word, nor from doing one kindly deed, nor from being cheerful and loving. Knowing from the beginning all that lay before Him - He went on with His daily duty quietly and joyfully. This reveals something of His love for us - and His joy in doing the Father's will.There is a strange contrast between the words of Christ as He spoke to the disciples of His approaching death - and the coming of this mother with her ambitious request: "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." Mothers should be ambitious for their boys, and want them to have high places. They should make sure, however, that the places they desire for them - are really high places. Earth's pinnacles are not always such. Taking out of her request its mistaken worldly thought, no parental ambition for a child can be fitter than hers - that her sons should have places near to Christ. It is to be feared, however, that very many parents think more of getting for their children high positions in this world - than places near to Christ, and high in holiness.Jesus spoke to the sons in reply, not to the mother: "You do not know what you are asking for." It was an ignorant prayer which they had offered. They did not know what they were asking for. We know that one dark day, two malefactors had the places on the Lord's right and left hand. We all many a time ask for things which we would not dare request - if we knew what they would cost us.There is a heathen legend which tells that once a man asked for this gift - not to die; and it was granted him by the Fates. He was to live on forever. But he had forgotten to ask that his youth and health and strength might last forever also; and so he lived on until age and its infirmities and weakness were weighing him down and his life grew to be a weariness and a burden to him. Existence (for it could not be called life) was one long torment for him; and then he wished to die and could not. He had asked for a thing which he was totally unfit to enjoy - but he had to take the consequences of it when it was once given. The better way to pray is to let God choose for us - and to give what He sees best for us - and in the way He knows is the best.<div class="center-it mtb10">"To sit at my right or left is not for Me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by My Father." We see here, that there are places in heaven higher and nearer Christ than others. Surely, too, the high places are worth striving for. We see how men scramble after earth's high positions; but heaven's positions are infinitely better. But how can we gain the seats nearest to Christ in glory? We have many hints. A little farther on this passage, we are taught that the path of humble self - forgetful service leads upward in spiritual life. In the book of Revelation, our Lord says that those who overcome in their struggles with sin and trial - shall sit with Him on His throne. In Daniel (12:3) we are told that those who turn many unto righteousness; that is, they who are active and successful in saving souls - shall shine as the stars, forever and ever. We know also that the "pure in heart" (Matthew 5:8) shall see God. These and many other hints show that the more like Christ we are in character and work here on earth - the nearer we shall get to Him both in this world and hereafter.</div>Jesus was always having difficulty in getting His disciples to understand the spiritual meaning of things. They thought here that rank and official position were the symbols of greatness. "No!" said Jesus; "whoever wants to become great among you - must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first - must be your slave ." This seems a strange way of getting on and getting up in the world. According to this, all men's scrambling for place and power - is really scrambling downward rather than upward! The real heights in human life are the heights of self-forgetfulness and service.Of course, this does not mean that a Christian is never to accept nor hold a position of honor and trust. A king, ruling millions of people, can be the very highest of servants - by ruling only for the glory of God and the good of his subjects. A rich man has an opportunity to get very near to Christ - if he uses his wealth to bless the world. It is not the worldly position which settles this question - but the spirit of the life. A servant in a family may be a great deal farther from it - than the mistress whom she serves. The kind of serving that our Lord means - is that which forgets self, and thinks only and always of the need and interests of others.The art of photography is now so advanced, that a whole page of a newspaper can be taken in miniature so small - as to be carried on a little button, and yet every letter and point be perfect.Just so, the whole life of Christ is photographed in this one little phrase, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28.He did not come to be served - if this had been His aim, He would never have left heaven's glory, where He lacked nothing, where angels praised Him and ministered unto Him. He came to serve. He went about doing good. He altogether forgot Himself. He served all He met, who would receive His service. At last He gave His life in serving - He gave it to save others, to redeem lost souls.You say that you want to be like Christ? You ask Him to print His own image on your heart. Here then, is the image: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."It is not a vague dream of human greatness which we are to think of, when we ask to be like our Master. The old monks thought that they were becoming like Christ - when they went into the wilderness, away from men, to live in cold cells. But surely, such a dream of uselessness is not the thought which this picture suggests. "To serve - to give our life" that is the Christ-like thing! Instead of fleeing away from people - we are to live with others, to serve them, to live for them, to seek to bless them, to do them good, to give our lives for them - that is the meaning of the prayer for Christ-likeness.

Matthew 20:17-34

Jesus Nearing Jerusalem

Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. If anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. § I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone … not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. § When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” Our boasting is this … we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshy wisdom but by the grace of God. § We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

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.

Morning Daily Light

 Serving the Lord with all humility. 

 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. He 

If the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. § I lay down My life for the sheep … No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. The life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. § Without shedding of blood there is no remission. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Evening Daily Light

 The Son of Man did not come to be served,but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. 

There was … a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” § The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Jesus … rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

 A servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

28 <woj>just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”</woj>

<woj>just as the Son of Man<cr>1</cr> did not come to be served, but to serve,<cr>2</cr> and to give his life as a ransom<cr>3</cr> for many.”</woj>

Matthew 20:28

 28 just as the Son of Man   did not come to be served, but to serve,   and to give his life as a ransom   for many.”

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

 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

<woj>just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”</woj>

 just as the Son of Man   did not come to be served, but to serve,   and to give his life as a ransom   for many.”

Bible Verse of the Day

June 15, 2024

Matthew 20:28 NIV

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