Reflecting God’s Devotions for Holy Living – Friday, 31 January
2014 “An Upside-Down World” Scripture Mark 9: 28 When he had entered the
house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 He
said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”[a]
Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did
not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to
them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill
him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32 But they did
not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Who Is the Greatest?
33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he
asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent,
for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat
down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be
last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and put it
among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes
one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me
but the one who sent me.”
Footnotes:
a. Mark 9:29 Other ancient authorities add and fasting
“An Upside-Down World” by J. Timothy White
Christians aren’t called to turn the world upside down; we’re
called to turn an upside-down world right side up. In Mark 9, the disciples are
learning from Jesus, and this passage shows they still had a long way to go.
They thought they had sacrificed a lot to follow Jesus. They wanted to know how
He would decide who was most important in the kingdom, each one hoping He was
the “One.” Jesus turned their expectations in a direction opposite to what they
anticipated. He stated the guiding principle, “be servant of all.”
Then He gave them a real-life example. He asked a child to stand
in front of them to picture what real acceptance looks like. Children are, by
definition, not yet mature. They can be fidgety, moody, playful, and
hyperactive, sometimes at one moment after another. They can often be treated
as the least important person in the room. Yet Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes
one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (v. 37).
“The servant of all” starts here. Seeing the world from the
bottom-up, rather than top-down allows us to see the little ones first, and
minister best to everyone along our journey.
Hymn for Today:
“Little Is Much When God is in It” by Kittie L. Suffield
1. In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.
Refrain:
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.
2. In the mad rush of the broad way,
In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,
Give to them the Word of Life.
Refrain:
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.
3. Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.
Refrain:
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.
4. Are you laid aside from service,
Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle,
In the sacred place of prayer.
Refrain:
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.
5. When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, My child—well done!”
Refrain:
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.
Thought for Today:
“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something, to the
glory of God!” (Anonymous)!
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Poland!
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