Be Our Guest

Christianity is counter-cultural. The world tells us to look out for number one and put ourselves first. We're urged to climb the ladder of success to get to the top because our culture idolizes the richest, the most famous, the smartest, and the most talented. 

Values were similar when Jesus walked on the earth. Even His beloved disciples, James and John, wanted to be in first place. They once asked Jesus if they could sit by His side, one on His left and the other on His right, when He came into glory in His kingdom. 

Of course, this request didn't sit well with the other ten disciples. Jesus responded to their bickering by teaching them a lesson:

 "And Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave (Gk. doulos, a servant or bondservant) of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' "

Mark 10:42-45 (ESV)

May we all continue to learn what it means to "serve one another in love."  Galatians 5:13 (ESV)