DCLM Daily Manna 6 September 2021 — First Things First
TOPIC: First Things First (DCLM Daily Manna 6 September 2021)
TEXT: Mark 10:35-45 (KJV)
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
KEY VERSE: “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” – (Mark 10:44)
MESSAGE:
Ahead of when the last trumpet shall sound with our Lord gathering us for our final abode in heaven, there are points He expects us to ponder on while we are still here in the world so that we do not lose focus. God does not want us to be like the religious teachers of His time who “omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23).
Also Read: Open Heaven 6 September 2021 – You Need Not Fear
When two of His disciples approached Him with a request to allow them prominent places in His kingdom, Jesus made them understand “it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared”. Though seeking the Kingdom of heaven is a paramount quest, there are “weightier matters” the believer must also address. How do we relate to each other as members of the body of Christ? Do we lord over the brethren in a master-servant relationship as the men and women of the world do? Or are we like Christ our Lord who “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”?
The genuine heaven-thirsty believer is urged to live a life of selfless service to others. He is not expected to be consumed by unholy personal ambitions that would cause divisions and ill feelings in the church. While evangelising and waiting for His coming, the Lord does not want us to live in acrimony which the struggle for leadership triggers.
Our seriousness about making heaven will be determined by the importance we attach to Christ’s ‘First-things-First’ principle to shun the rat race philosophy of this world. Heaven has been prepared for only those who obey what the Lord asks us to do as we await His coming. It is not for those who express their loyalty to God through disuniting and contentious quests.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Aim for heaven through humility, service and obedience.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 92-100
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
