Thoughts for another day

January 15, 2009.

Today's verse: Mt. 20:28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

I was once talking to a man who was extremely powerful and influential. In the course of his life, he discovered the Living God and swore his allegiance to Him. After that his life changed completely. He realised that the things he would do earlier, he was just not able to do. It initially rattled him when he knew he could with just one call swing things in his favor rather than wait and wait for a simple application to be passed. But since this man had dedicated his life to Jesus, Jesus would not permit him to live the way he lived earlier.

Over a period of time, this man changed and how. He who had was used to people bowing to him and going to him for their solutions now had no one like that coming to him except the helpless who needed counseling he could provide as a channel of God! Nobody feared him anymore and people even took advantage of him knowing he would do nothing. This troubled the man and sometimes he’d be furious and seethe within. But, Jesus wouldn’t allow him to go any further. Rather, Jesus would tell him about how He, even though the Owner of the universe came as a mere carpenter and served those who came to Him. This quieted the man and gradually, he realised that the trappings of the world were really not worth anything and that the people only paid him respect for what he could do for them and not what he was. He also realised that behind him, they would pour venom on him.

Today’s verse is key in understanding that Christian living is not to be served, but to serve for Jesus Himself came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Whenever we crave for worldly power, let us remember this verse and in remembering also know that if Jesus, our Lord and Master, served, how much more we should!