November 4
Scripture of the day: "They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, 'What were you discussing on the way?' But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, 'If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all'." Mark 9:33-35
Thought of the day: The disciples were men like all of us ... susceptible to the same temptations. They had been with Jesus for some time when they walked with Him that day to Capernaum. Along the way they had been talking about which of them was the greatest. Jesus, being God, knew what they were discussing ... but He asked them what they had been discussing. How embarrassing it must have been for them when they didn't answer. Then He called the twelve together and told them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."
Challenge of the day: Don't think that walking with Jesus as one of His original twelve made it easier to be holy than it is for you today. Their discussion about which of them was the greatest sounds like so much of the pride that can be seen in the church today. Pride is sin. Wanting to be served rather than wanting to serve is sin. Do you seek to be first ... or seek to serve? Can you imagine how foolish the twelve must have felt when they realized that Jesus knew of their discussion along the road? What would you say if Jesus asked you what you had been thinking or discussing today? Could you answer ... answer without embarrassment? Jesus is God ... He knows everything you think and say.
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