A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Not So With You"

My mother used to frustrate me with her one-line wisdom zingers. She would often respond to the crazy requests of her teenage son with one-liners that could not be rebutted. When I would ask to go somewhere I knew down deep I shouldn't be going using the argument that everyone was doing it, she would simply reply, "not everybody, for you're not."  Or, sometimes she would strengthen with, "not everybody, no Whetstones are going." How do you argue with that?

Jesus was a master of one-liners too. A loving mother of two of His disciples came to Jesus asking that her sons would be granted the places of honor and power in His Kingdom, the seats on His right and left.  Jesus responded by asking the two if the could drink the cup He as going to drink. This question was preparing them for the lesson He was about to teach all of His disciples. The other ten were "indignant" when they overheard what was going on, for they wanted these seats. Jesus
drew them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them."  Then He uses a classic one-liner, "Not so with you." (Matthew 20:20- 26)

This one-liner cuts to the heart of discipleship. God's people are not like the world and do not live by world standards. In the world power, position, and prestige define people and are sought after. Not so with us. Our place of honor is serving. "Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant - just like the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:27-28) We cry, "Everybody wants to achieve and advance
through the ranks Jesus." He simple says, "not everybody, I'm not, your not."

This axiom is not only for those in leadership positions, but is for all Christians in all aspects of life. We are to live holy by the power of the indwelling Spirit, and holy lives are radically different than those in the world. People without Christ live selfish, self-centered lives, striving for identity in places of power, prestige, honor, greatness, wealth. Not so with us. People outside of His Kingdom strive to lord over people, wielding influence and perceived power granted them by their achieved status. Not so with us. We drink the cup that Jesus drank and walk the way Jesus walked, not seeking to be served, but serving, giving our lives for the sake of others.

The disciples did not learn the lesson right away. It took time and being filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost before the lesson sank in. Jesus' prophetic words "You will indeed drink from my cup" were fulfilled. Our prayer and efforts are that His words are fulfilled in us. We too must drink from His cup and by His empowerment and enablement live as He lived. When we are tempted to go the way of the world, be like the people of the world, live according to the standards of the world, let us remember Jesus' one-liner - "Not so with you!"

Keep Close to Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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