I've failed miserably at keeping up with this blog, so.... I'm going to try to share some of my thoughts on what God has been up to through the study of the gospel of Mark. I share weekly with the people of River of Life, but I also have some issues I wrestle with whenever I read the Word of God...things that might challenge or encourage or both.

I've wrestled over Mark 10:43..."Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave of all." Jesus has a way of turning my world upside down...this is one of those times. I know the challenge of Jesus to serve others. He has always been portrayed as a Servant and in verse 44 He tells his followers that "even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve."

I think that on a scale of 1-10, I might be a seven or so on the servant scale. Not too bad. But, don't be too impressed....my issue with serving is that I do a pretty good job (7) serving people who I am trying to impress or win over. So, although to most people who know me I'm probably seen as a serving person, to those closest to me (my bride and children) I am more likeley seen as rather self centered and a hypocrit.

I'm not much different than the disciples as they argued over who was the greatest and who was going to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus when he comes into His glory....they did not have servant heart's toward those closest to them. Jesus reprimands them and exhorts them to serve one another even to the point of acting like a "slave" in their service.

Another problem is that I serve those who I think I can gain something from. Now, that makes me seem rather shallow....I can be. I can sometimes behave like the disciples who, immediately after being charged with serving and being a slave to all, rebuked the blind man in verse 46 because he was calling out to Jesus. Jesus' admonition of serving flew out the door when this outcast blind beggar wanted to see Jesus. The disciples, instead of helping him to his feet and escorting him to the Messiah, rebuked him for calling out...servant hearts?

God doesn't limit who or when or how we are to serve, we are charged to simply serve and be a slave to all, then we will be great in the kingdom. I do believe that this begins in our homes and in our workplaces and in our schools with those people in our sphere of influence.

If we are to be a reflection of our Master, it seems like it begins with serving the world as Jesus served. Study Jesus.