Serving Others for Jesus

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. I'm Sheridan Voisey and I've titled our reading, Serving Others for Jesus. Actress Nichelle Nichols is best remembered for playing Lieutenant Uhara in the original Star Trek series. Landing the role was a personal win for Nichols, making her one of the first African American women on a major TV show, but a greater win was to come of it. Nichols had actually resigned from Star Trek after its first season to return to her theatre work, but then she met Martin Luther King Jr. who urged her not to leave.

For the first time, he said, African Americans were being seen on TV as intelligent people who could do anything, even go to space. By playing Lieutenant Uhara, Nichols was achieving a greater win, showing black women and children what they could become. It reminds me of the time James and John asked Jesus for the two best positions in his kingdom in Mark Chapter 10.

What personal wins such positions would be. Jesus not only explained the painful realities of their request, but called them to higher goals, saying, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. His followers weren't to seek personal wins alone, but, like him, use their positions to serve others.

Nichelle Nichols stayed with Star Trek for the greater win it provided for African Americans. May we too never be content with a personal win alone, but use whatever position we gain to serve others in his name. Today's scripture reading is from Mark Chapter 10 verses 35 to 45. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. Teacher, they said, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. What do you want me to do for you, he asked. They replied, let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory. You don't know what you're asking, Jesus said. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?

We can, they answered. Jesus said to them, you will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared. When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, you know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Let's pray together. Lord, we thank you for the personal wins that we get to have in life, whether wins in our family or work or ministry. Would you show us how to use our position to serve others in your name, and would you shape our hearts to seek greater wins than those that just benefit us alone? We want to follow you in all things, Lord, including in our ambitions. Would you help us to be people who go for the greater win in Jesus' name? Amen. Thanks for listening. I'm Sheridan Voisey, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.