Summer of Depth Devotional Day 37

Welcome to Day 37 of our Summer of Depth Devotional and Reading Plan.

There are moments when Jesus is trying to teach us something, but our attention is somewhere else.

Today's passage is one of those moments. As you read, ask God to help you notice not only what Jesus is saying, but what His disciples are talking about instead.

So, let's dive deep into His Word.

Before anything else, slow down and read: Mark 9:30–37.

Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to be betrayed, killed, and raised from the dead. Mark says they don't understand what He means, but they're afraid to ask Him about it.

A little later, Jesus asks them what they had been discussing on the road.

No one answers.

Why?

Because they had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest.

It's such an honest picture of the human heart. While Jesus is talking about giving His life away, the disciples are thinking about themselves.

Before being too hard on them, it's worth asking if we're any different.

It's often easier to think about our own success, our own future, or how we compare to everyone else than it is to sit with the harder things God may be trying to show us. Sometimes we fill the silence because we're uncomfortable asking the deeper questions…questions like, who do I serve? Myself or others? Who do I look out for? Number 1? Or others? What do I ultimately desire? Success for myself or caring for others?

Jesus doesn't shame the disciples. He simply gathers them close and gently redefines greatness:

"Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."

The kingdom of God works differently than every other kingdom. Greatness isn't found in being noticed. It's found in becoming more like Jesus…a perfect man, king, and God, who made himself the lowest servant of all.

Practice

Take five quiet minutes today and ask God the honest question: God, where in my life do I put myself before others?

Then sit with Him long enough to listen.