Daily Dose 3-2-11

Mark 10:43-45…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Servant is not at the top of most of our lists of ambitions. We live in a society that is focused on self and the need to “Look out for number one.” It is easy to fall into the trap of seeking power and prestige even though we may not realize that’s what we are doing. As Christians, how we conduct ourselves within our congregations says a lot about our motives. If we insist on our own way in matters of dispute and cause discord among the body, we could be motivated by power. If we continually pout over a lack of attention or focus, we could be motivated by prestige. Christ calls us to grow up spiritually by kneeling down to serve.

Father, Help me to overcome impure motives and only look for ways to serve you. Pierce my heart to be the heart of Your servant and look at Your children through Your eyes. Amen

Daily Dose 3-1-11

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

We often think of the Old Testament as the Book of Law and the New Testament as the Book of Love. This scripture is beautiful evidence of how God – even during law keeping – still looked at the heart; and how Jesus’ life is the fulfillment of the Law. Obedience is simply the outpouring and physical evidence of the spiritual condition of the heart. If we are truly following Christ, our number one law is love. When we are wronged or rejected by others, love will guide us to forgiveness and restitution. It doesn’t take away the wrong, but covers it. Is that enough? Whenever you tend to focus on the wrong of others and allow it to keep them in your bondage, remember the wrong that Jesus endured on the cross. He had the power to inflict revenge. He could have come off the cross and confronted His accusers and made them pay. Instead, He allowed His blood – His loving sacrifice to cover their wrongs and the wrongs for generations to follow. Do you REALLY want to follow Christ? Then begin allowing your love for others to cover their wrongs instead of keeping accounts of their transgressions. The more we love and forgive, the more we reflect the Savior and lead other to Him or to a deeper relationship with Him.

Loving Savior, I thank You for covering my wrongs with Your love. Prick my heart to choose love over law and my sense of justice. Soften my heart to those who hurt or reject me so that I reflect Your love. Amen