Many times as I have my devotions, I type the thoughts the Lord teaches me in my devotional journal on my computer. Often I’ll type a word and then see it underlined in red. Red underlined words mean that word isn’t spelled correctly – or that it isn’t a word in the dictionary of my computer. The word “servanthood” is one such word – it’s just not in the vocabulary of Microsoft Office Word! But it is a word, and it was one that was in the vocabulary of Jesus; as a matter of fact, it was the essence of His life!
Servanthood isn’t in the vocabulary of two men in the book of Mark either. In Mark 10:35-52 we read of two times where a request is asked of Jesus. The first request is made by James and John. When Jesus approaches them He asks, “What is it that I should do for you?” They then ask that they be granted to be seated one on each side of His right hand in glory. Jesus tells them that it is not for Him to grant such a thing. The answer was “no.”
In the next part of the passage we read about blind Bartimaeus crying out to Jesus. Jesus comes and asks him the same question He asked James and John – “What is it that I should do for you?” Bartimaeus says, “That I may receive my sight.” Immediately Jesus tells him to go his way; his faith had made him whole. The answer was “Yes!”
What is the difference in these two requests? The first request would have magnified James and John. Being served was what they desired! They were looking for a position. Jesus told them and the rest of the disciples that whoever would be great must be the servant of all. Jesus was just that. How humbling it must have been for James and John to realize that they wanted to be something that was contrary to the very nature of our Savior!
In the next scenario when Bartimaeus is cured of his blindness. we see clearly that Jesus is exalted – not Bartimaeus. After his healing Bart followed Jesus “in the way.” He wasn’t seeking for a following for himself; he now became a disciple.
The difference in the two requests was their motive. The things that we ask God for must be things that would exalt Him. If we’re asking Him to grant something so we can have a position or get recognition can we really expect Him to give it to us? If there’s a matter we’ve been praying about and the answer has been “no” perhaps we need to look at it and ask ourselves if this would exalt Christ or ourselves. Oh, initially we might not have that thought of self- exaltation, but what about the hidden motive of our heart? We need to ask the Lord to search us and see if we have a right attitude concerning the thing we’re asking Him for.
Jesus left the glories of heaven to come to earth to humble Himself to be a servant. Everything we do, and every request we make should resemble our Savior. Is servanthood in your vocabulary?
RefreshHer 