John 12:26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. English Standard Version (ESV)
Our men's Bible study group is currently going through John, at the moment John chapter 12. We are proceeding slowly, passage by passage. In slowing down, you "see" things that previously you may have overlooked. Such was the case in today's verse. One of the members said that he had never noticed the small phrase in today's verse "if anyone serves me, he must follow me".Jesus is coming under increased scrutiny in the chapter as He has and will continue to have "run ins" with the Pharisee's who are out to discredit and if possible, destroy Him. With that background, He makes the statement in today's verse to His disciples.
In his devotional yesterday, James MacDonald wrote, "The ultimate test of lordship is not the crisis of your deciding that you believe this but the process of submitting your will to His at the point of pressure, the place where He and you disagree on what to choose. Whose will wins: yours or His? "Jesus is Lord" is chosen in a dozen daily decisions, each one taking your life to a better place.
- If I were in charge, I would do __________ with my life. But Jesus is Lord, so I choose His plan for my life.
- If I were in charge, I would do __________ with my finances. But Jesus is Lord, so I choose to give, save, and spend according to His priorities.
- If I were in charge, I would do __________ right now in my marriage, but I'm not in charge. He is Lord, and I will do what His Word says.
- If I were in charge, I'd storm into work and tell my boss __________. But Jesus Christ is Lord, and as His representative, I'll only say what my Master wants me to say."
It is a sobering verse and MacDonald's "fill in the blanks" should catch our attention and cause us to ask the question, just who is in charge of my life, who do I serve? Are we doing the things that show "I am in charge of my life"? There is time to change, there is time to follow. It involves a choice.
Joshua 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, orthe gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." English Standard Version (ESV)
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
John 12:24-26The Message (MSG)
24-25 "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
26 "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.
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