9th. April. 2022. Daily Devotion.

“Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45

Jesus is speaking in broad terms as he describes what people in power can be like. They can intimidate, bully, threaten, and seek to control. In contrast, Jesus says, we are called to live differently. We must not follow the way of the world with its structures of privilege, race, class, gender, culture, influence, politics, or religious elitism. Jesus says we are to be servants, following his example. He came not to be served but to serve and “to give his life as a ransom for many.”

All our relationships—parent-child, wife-husband, pastor-congregation, teacher-student—need to be refreshed from tendencies to control and manipulate. Instead, the focus should be on serving others, helping people to flourish, and empowering everyone to honour, worship, and follow Christ.

Are you a servant in the example of Christ in your circles of influence? In what ways are you serving others as a neighbour, friend, spouse, parent, family member, teacher, or church member?

We are children of the heavenly Father and disciples of Jesus, who did not consider glory a thing to be grasped, but who humbled himself to die on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11). Because of Jesus, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices so that the name and kingdom of God are made known. Douglas MacLeod

Lord, make me a servant in the example of Christ. Help me to follow Jesus faithfully, reflecting your love and goodness for all to see. Amen.

A Prayer for Lent

Father in Heaven, the light of your truth bestows sight to the darkness of sinful eyes. May this season of repentance bring me the blessing of Your forgiveness and the gift of Your light. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We pray for those who have no peace –
for those who are troubled and torn apart by lack of self-esteem
for those who torment and victimise the vulnerable.
We pray for men and women affected by violence in the home and for those who live by violence.
We pray for those who are trafficked and for those who organise and profit from selling other humans.
May they learn of your love and somehow come to newness of life
even in the midst of despair.
God of mercy and love let us serve you in our world. Loving Lord let us not stand aside and tolerate lack of basic human resources, dehumanising practices, or the use of violence to disempower your people.
Give us strength to act and challenge hatred, and instead bring your justice and mercy. In your name we humbly ask that we may be a channel for your peace and love. Amen.

Loving God, my shield and hiding place, give me the courage to come from behind the shield, give me the faith to leave my hiding place, so that I might be willing to go into every place: places of tears and trauma, places of disillusion and despair as well as places of fun and fulfilment. Displace my complacency and replace it with a spirit of boldness. May I serve you till in heaven I take my place. Until then, I place into your hands the things I should do, safe in the knowledge that you are my abiding place, my dwelling place and my resting place. Amen. Inspired by Psalm 8