Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 4
Saturday


HUMILITY AND
GREATNESS

READ:
Matthew 20:20-28
____________________________________________________

Whoever desires to
become great among
you, let him be your
servant.
__Matthew 20:26
____________________________________________________

As a 7-year-old, Richard Bernstein admired Jackie Robinson's athletic ability and courage as the first african-American man to play Major League baseball in the modern era. A few years later, while working at a small-town golf course, Bernstein was astonished to find himself carrying the bag of his hero, Jackie Robinson. When rain postponed the game, Robinson held an umbrella over the two of them and shared his chocolate bar with the young caddy. Writing in The International Herald Tribune, Bernstein cited that humble act of kindness as a mark of greatness he has never forgotten.

True greatness is shown by humility, not pride. This was powerfully demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, who told His ambitious disciples: "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:26-28).

When God Himself walked on earth as a man, He washed feet, welcomed children, and willingly gave His life to deliver us from the self-centered tyranny of sin. His example gives credence to His command.
__David McCasland
_____________________________________________________________

``````````````True greatness does not lie with those```````````````
````````````````````Who strive for worldly fame,`````````````````
```````````````It lies instead with those who choose````````````````
``````````````To serve in Jesus' name. __D. De Haan`````````````
_____________________________________________________________

We can do great things for the Lord
if we are willing to do little things for others.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 20:20-28**********

20 Then the mother of
Zebedee's sons came to Him
with her sons, kneeling
down and asking something
from Him.

21 And He said to her,
"What do you wish?"
She said to Him, "Grant
that these two sons of mine
may sit, one on Your right
hand and the other on the
left, in Your kingdom."

22 But Jesus answered and
said, "You do not know
what you ask. Are you able
to drink the cup that I am
about to drink, and be
baptized with the baptism
that I am baptized with?"

They said to Him, "We are
able."

23 So He said to them, "You
will indeed drink My cup,
and be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized
with; but to sit on My right
hand and on My left is not
Mine to give, but it is for
those for whom it is
prepared by My Father."

24 And when the ten heard
it, they were greatly
displeased with the two
brothers. 25 But Jesus called
them to Himself and said,
"You know that the rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over
them, and those who are
great exercise authority over
them. 26 Yet it shall not be so
among you; but whoever
desires to be first among
you, let him be your slave--

28 just as the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but
to serve, and to give His life
a ransom for many."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

James and John (the son of Zebedee; v.20), with Peter, formed
Jesus' "inner circle" of disciples, yet they're not always portrayed
positively. James and John are also called the "Sons of Thunder"
(Mark 3:17), which some say points to their fierce tempers.
__Bill Crowder