Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 6
Thursday


SERVE OR DIE

READ:
Mark 10:35-45
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The Son of Man did not
come to be served, but
to serve. __Mark 10:45
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Dr. Paul Brand told me of a memorable Frenchman named Pierre, who had served in Parliament until he became disillusioned with the slow pace of political change. During a harsh winter, many Parisian beggars froze to death. In desperation, Pierre became a friar to work among them and organize the beggars themselves.

They divided into teams to scour the city for bottles. Next, he led them to build a warehouse out of discarded bricks and start a business processing the bottles. Finally, he gave each beggar responsibility to help another poorer than himself. The project caught on. In a few years he founded the charitable organization Emmaus.

Eventually, there were few beggars to be found in Pairs. So Pierre went to India. "If I don't find people worse off than my beggars," he said, "this movement could turn inward. They'll become a powerful, rich organization, and the whole spiritual impact will be lost. They'll have no one to serve."

At a leprosy colony in India, Pierre met patients worse off than his former beggars. Returning to France, he mobilized the beggars to build a leprosy ward at a hospital in India.

"It is you who have saved us, he told the grateful patients. "We must serve or we die." __Philip Yancey
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~THINKING IT THROUGH~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~In Mark 10:35-37, what did James and John seek?~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~What did Jesus say about the world's authority? (v.42).~~~~~
~~~~~~~How are followers of Christ to be different? (vv.43-45).~~~~~
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If you want a field of service, look around you.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Mark 10:35-45***********

35 Then James and John,
the sons of Zebedee, came
to Him, saying, "Teacher,
we want You to do for us
whatever we ask."

36 And He said to them,
"What do you want Me to
do for you?"

37 They said to Him,
"Grant us that we may sit,
one on Your right hand and
the other on Your left, in
Your glory."

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

39 They said to Him, "We
are able."

So Jesus said to them,
"You will indeed drink the
cup that I drink, and with
the baptism I am baptized
with you will be baptized;

40 but to sit on My right
hand and on My left is not
Mine to give, but it is for
thsoe for whom it is
prpared."

And when the ten heard
it, they began to be greatly
displeased with James and
John. 42 But Jesus called
them to Himself and said to
them, "You know that those
who are considered rulers
over the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their great
ones exercise authority over
them. 43 Yet it shall not be
so among you; but whoever
desires to become great
among you shall be your
servant. 44 And whoever of
you desires to be first shall
be slave of all. 45 For even
the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to
serve, and to give His life a
ransom for amny."

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

In verse 38, Jesus asks the sons of Zebedee if they are able to be
baptized with His baptism. This was not referring to a religious
ceremony but to the coming suffering He would endure on the cross
for our sins. __Bill Crowder