last.
last.
Feb 10Sometimes we have the most ridiculous thoughts & ideas… and, sometimes, to make matters worse, we share those crazy opinions with others. Which often leads to arguments or solutions that are absurd! Well, in today’s reading, the disciples get caught in one of those moments. Check it out…
After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, ”What were you discussing out on the road?” 34 But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, ”Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” Mark 9:33-35
Can you imagine being with a bunch of your friends arguing about who Jesus loves the most? Or, who was the biggest, baddest and the best?! What a crazy thing to allow to live in our craniums! I know it’s easy to look down at “those silly disciples” … what a petty thing to bicker about! Well, I hate to admit it, but look around – we can be pretty competitive about things that are stupid. The topics range between all kinds of things, like “what’s the best”… church? blog? computer? team? preacher? worship cd? conference? book? etc. – people get passionate about defending their opinions.
Then, in the midst of the argument, Jesus clears His throat and asks the big question: “what were you discussing?” … like the disciples, you don’t want to ‘trouble the Lord with your little, casual, conversation’ – which really means, ‘crap, we’re busted!’
Jesus tells them (and US), that to be first we have to be LAST. Last? … ugh, I hate being last! In fact, I hate even being in 2nd place! Last? Really??! Maybe the real problem for us is that we don’t really want to be FIRST according to Jesus’ rules. So, instead, we compete & compare with others. IF we would only compare ourselves to Christ and His Word, then we could embrace last and learn the art of serving. Not serving better than other servants but serving Jesus better than we did the day before.
And, here’s the good part: LAST won’t LAST forever! One day, SOON, we who have died to self and serve the King of Kings will get to WIN IT ALL!
- What or Who are you competing & comparing with?
- When was the last time Jesus caught you?
- Do you get the whole ‘last’ thing?
making last last longer & longer – knowing it won’t last too long, Chilly
WOW! I had a “slap in the face” situation this week. Needless to say I did and said exactly what I should have or what Jesus would of wanted me to say or how I should have reacted but yet myy thoughts were somewhere else! Instead of saying “GOD is awesome”, I was thinking to say “HA HA HA I told you so”…Never the less I repented for those thoughts and asked to be forgiven and then exclaimed just how awesome GOD is!!p.s Just when I am in the middle of challenging myself with the who preceived, precise and actual image theory! All I can say is WOW what things can be pointed out to us, just when we think we know it all!
I think that even if you act like a servant in last place we still want to argue that we’re first because of that and so the only way to be last is to realize that it doesn’t matter and just give up the pride.
Just blogged about this last week – same passage. Lord, give me ears to hear you!
1) I think sometimes I try to think in my mind how others are less than me – especially in spiritual things. I usually want to have the right perspective (more right than others).
2) I feel like Jesus catches me on this every once in a while – probably more than I admit.
3) The ‘last’ thing I need to do a better job of in my life. I really gotta kill pride and not give it any excuse to come up. This blog was really helpful and really practically applied from the passage. Thanks!
It is easy as sinful humans to compare and compete with others around us for the bbd- Bigger, Better, Deal. The art of serving others is a selfless act, nobody should be worried about what place we will fall in, I’ll be in last on Earth for God, because I want to enjoy ever”Last”ing life after this earthly one is finished.
oh man, this is toughie. i got ‘caught’ this morning during prayer, having the totally wrong attitude about being “wronged.” i guess i compare myself with other leaders and get down on myself if i don’t think i’m doing enough.
i do think i get the ‘last’ thing. i forget about it sometimes though. i need to get better at remembering to be last when situations arise instead of after the fact.