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Monday, September 16, 2019

Living in Last Place {Mark 9 & 10}



Pastor/author Rick Warren begins his best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life with these penetrating words:  “The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.  It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions.  If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God.  You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.”

 Image result for Mark 10:45


Gym class (or P.E. if you prefer to call it that), was not my favorite class.  I think it’s one of the most humiliating classes I ever had to take.  Rarely was I picked first, much less in the middle by any of the team captains.  Last was pretty much where I recall.  I never fit into the popular groups in school.  I certainly never wore the right clothes, nor went to the right parties.  I battled with rejection as a teenager.  And at times, I still do.  If it weren’t for my faith and firm foundation, I probably would struggle even more.

In today’s readings, Jesus gave His disciples a “children’s sermon” about the importance of living in ‘last place.’  This teaching was very important in light of His disciples’ concept of life in His Kingdom.

We know from various Gospel accounts that Jesus’ disciples were more concerned about their own roles in this kingdom as they perceived it than in Jesus’ understanding of this kingdom.  I imagine they probably made plans about how they’d treat people and what they’d wear and where they would live.

 Image result for Luke 9:46

Luke 9:46 give us a glimpse of their aspirations.  “An argument arose among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.”  Can you believe it!  Jesus is on His way to get spit on, mocked, flogged, nailed to a cross and His disciples are arguing about who’s going to be greatest!  And we don’t make it about ourselves at all, do we?

We truly are not different and we all need a lesson on living in last place – a lesson on humility.  Don’t you find it impossible for you to do something without any concern for yourself, in one way or another?  Your purist motives, your finest work, your most caring acts – even your righteous deeds – are like filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6).  How would you respond in the presence of God who knows the sinful motives of your heart?

When Jesus confronted the disciples – they kept quiet.  It seems their reaction reflects shame and guilt because they were only concerned about their own lives as Jesus spoke about His death.  The conviction of the Holy Spirit upon our sin, stops us in our tracks, silences our pride and self-centeredness, and brings us to our knees with a “last place” feeling of guilt as we cry out “Lord, have mercy on me.”  And then we are shown the amazing love, patience and forgiveness as Jesus picks up and proceeds to teach us how to continue to serve Him in our daily lives.  In His love, He treats us last place sinners as first place winners!