WORD FOR THE DAY “READY FOR YOUR SUCCESS”
Matthew 20 (KJV)- 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
The time for your success, money, and power is now.
In today’s message, we get a glimpse of the mother of the disciples James and John's high aspirations for her sons. After all her beloved sons have left all they had to follow Jesus, that is her premise, and it’s understandable. So, Mom asks Jesus on their behalf to make sure that her sons are given high positions of authority in his kingdom. We all can relate to this request, especially in today’s times where success, power, and money is a sign of making something out of your life. However, some people don’t care at all about money or power or success, but they do care deeply about honor. A lot of people can identify with the Mother and James and John’s desire. They want to go places; they want to be known as a success in society. Perhaps a number of people reading this devotion right now are filled with these emotions. You made have heard it said: “Many people want the success, but they don’t want the journey or to pay the price of success”
There is always a high cost on the road to success in the Kingdom of God.
So, Jesus shares some compelling truths with Mom, James, and John: “You do not know what you are asking.” He is indeed a King, and he will indeed rule Israel, but his crown will be made of thorns, and his throne will be a Roman instrument of torture. Jesus is sharing the part that’s not seen in what they desire. And so, Jesus attempts to clarify: “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” The key to honor in the kingdom of God is to drink the cup of suffering, to be willing to suffer out of love, to give one’s life away as a gift. Look at the lives of those in your sphere of influence and see what is the price they had to pay in their journey. It is not about accumulating things that make us feel complete, it’s about emptying ourselves out to impact others in a meaningful way.
Point to ponder
Embrace aspirations that enable you to not only advance yourself to success but empower others to the best for themselves as well. This is the model of Jesus and it’s worth our considerations even if we pay the price of some suffering along the way.
Are you drinking from the cup that has some suffer
Does this message cause you to do some introspection?
Are you willing to give your life away as a gift?
Can you see that honor comes with a price?
What kind of leader do you want to become?
Special thanks!
Pastor James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team are especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of March 2021, by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Annette Straker, Ms. Rita McGuffin, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Mable Bazemore, Ms. Evelyn Rosado, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Jeanette Grant, Ms. Angela Battle, Pastor Raymond Phillips, Mr. William Jones, Ms. Angie Scraders-Murphy, Mr. Calvin Jackson, Mr. Calvin Griffith, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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Kingdom Blessings,