FollowingJesus.me

“So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,” – Mark 10:43

Here we are again. It feels like a story on repeat. Jesus foretells his death and his disciples break into jockeying for position. They are regularly arguing about who is the greatest among them. Jesus interrupts and reminds them that this is how the world behaves. “But among you it will be different,” Jesus says. But among you it will be different! It reminded me of what I tell my children when they are going out somewhere, “Don’t forget, you are a Martin.” They have come to know what I mean by this. I am telling them that others may behave a certain way, but not you. You are a Martin and that is not how Martins behave.

Jesus is building a movement, a family; one that is in the world but not of the world. His is a family that does not look like everyone else’s. “But among you it will be different.”

Different? Yes, I know, Jesus’ family (Christians) often doesn’t look different. We still have people jockeying for position. There are those of us who still have difficulty loving those who are not like us. We still struggle with dying to ourselves or being a servant of all. Often, Jesus’ family is not different at all. We look and behave like the world.

I thank Jesus that he has made me part of his family, which includes many of you. It hurts my heart (and I imagine yours too) when I see members of my Jesus family acting selfishly or treating others unlovingly. I know it also breaks Jesus’ heart.

I have to be careful of two things: 1. Not judging Jesus or individuals based on what I see other “Christians” doing or hear them saying, and 2. Not allowing myself to slip into behavior that better reflects the world around me than it reflects Jesus.

But among you it will be different.

Prayer:

Jesus, first, let me say, “I am sorry.” I am sorry for acting more like the world around me than like you. You said that it will be different among your children and I haven’t helped make it different. Jesus, I want it to be different. I want your family to look and behave as they should. I want your family to look like you. I can’t do that for anyone else, I have to start with myself.

Jesus, today, help me to see where I am following the patterns of the world. Help me to see where my life, my thoughts, my attitudes, my words, etc. are not reflecting you. It’s more often than I would like to admit. Jesus, help me to change, help me to be more and more like you.

Jesus, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for coming to serve and teaching me to be a servant. Thank you for adopting me into your family and making me your child! Help me reflect you today.

Thank you, Jesus!