Daily Devotional for Friday, October 20

Jesus and the Disciples

“And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first,” Mark 10:29-31.

D. L. Moody wrote the following words next to Isaiah 6:8 in his Bible: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do, and what I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.”

Living in the kingdom of God is the exact opposite of the kingdom of man. In the kingdom of man, greatness is defined by power, prestige, money, influence and being served by others. Jesus declared to be great in His kingdom would require sacrifice and submission. The message of the kingdom of God is, “the King has sacrificed His Son to welcome all to come to Him.” Thus, to be like our King, we must give our lives to Jesus because He gave His life for us.

Moody captured this message in the above quote. One Christian cannot accomplish all of God’s kingdom work within himself. But every Christian must serve God where he is with the talents God has given him. Greatness in the kingdom of God is measured by faithful service and sacrifice to the God who has given immeasurably more than we could ever give.

FINAL THOUGHT: Serve God faithfully where you are with the talents and time He has gifted you. 

Steven Ridings