Today’s Scripture: Mark 8-10
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. – Acts 20:24
For many people, being a servant of Jesus Christ sounds romantic and idealistic. But serving Christ is a demanding proposition, as we see in Mark 10:32-34.
And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him; and the third day he shall rise again.” (KJV)
Before these remarks, Jesus and His disciples had been in Galilee. The people had been friendly and had turned out in large numbers. The ministry had gone well, and the disciples may have begun to think that serving Jesus was a great idea. Friendly people, big crowds. And then one day Jesus dropped the bombshell: “We’re leaving Galilee and going up to Jerusalem!”
I can almost hear the disciples saying, “The ministry is going great here in Galilee. Here they like us; up there they hate us and are liable to kill us.”
The principle emerging from this story is that a servant of Christ cannot choose his place of service, nor the type of service he will render to the Lord. God chooses both of these things. But along with God’s choice, He gives us the wisdom and strength we need.
Prayer
Lord, give me willingness to do what You call me to do. Amen.
To Ponder
There may be times when we go to a seemingly unattractive place with no idea of what lies ahead. But there is no greater joy than following the orders of the Master.
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