The Joy of Glory

Today’s devotional is authored by Allison Davis

Mark 9:33-35
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one  another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said
to them,“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Reflection
One of my favorite overarching themes in Scripture is Jesus’ “Upside-Down Kingdom.”

Time and time again, Christ takes the world’s way of doing things, society’s values, and turns them on their heads.

The King of Israel? It’s not any of the tall, strong sons of Jesse, but David… “the youngest” who was “keeping the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:1-13).

The Savior of the world? He’s not a warrior king, but a baby born in Bethlehem.

The atoning sacrifice for our sins? It’s not an animal, but the Son of God Himself.

The hero of the parable? It’s not the priest or the religious Levite, but the Samaritan—a race hated by Jews.

The persecuted? “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

The greatest? They are the servants. Afterall, Jesus said: “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

In 1 Corinthians 1:18-20, Paul says, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

The idea that the greatest person—the top dog, number one—is the one who becomes last and serves is certainly foolish in the eyes of the world! Is it not true in Christ, however? Jesus is God incarnate, meaning God in human form. If anyone had the right to be “greatest” by the world’s standards, it was him! Yet in Philippians 2 we see that Jesus humbled himself by 1. Becoming man and 2. Dying—and not just dying, but dying on a cross.

In Christ, God really is the greatest and first. He is the servant of all. As Christians (a word meaning “little Christs”), we are to follow in the footsteps of our Savior. Instead of seeking power, let us seek opportunities to serve one another. Instead of seeking applause, let us applaud others. Instead of discounting children, let us value them and their contributions to the world as Jesus did. Spend some time today reflecting on Jesus’ Upside-Down Kingdom. What other passages in Scripture reinforce this idea? Who can you serve today? Also, make sure you spend time thanking Jesus for coming not to be served, but to serve!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

**Note: there is a typo on the Lenten Reading Guide. Today’s text is Matthew 6:25-34**
Today’s devotional is authored by Allison Davis

Matthew 6:25-34 (click here to read the entire passage)
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:25-26)

Reflection
I grew up in a small, Southern Baptist church where we would periodically have a soloist sing a special song during Sunday worship. This is how I became acquainted with the gospel hymn “His Eye is On the Sparrow” originally by Civilla D. Martin and Charles H. Gabriel. The music we listen to forms us. Now, 15 or more years since I’ve heard that song sung by Mrs. Tina Green on the platform of Crestview Baptist Church, I can still hear her voice in my head…

“Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

This hymn was clearly based on Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus comforts his audience with the assurance that there is no need to be anxious. God intimately knows and takes care of every bird on the planet. Don’t you think he’ll take care of you, too? You, a person made in his image?

Oh, do we need this text and that song today. I believe the enemy wants us to live in a constant state of fear and anxiety in these days. COVID-19 is an illness to be aware and cautious of, absolutely. I am thankful our government and church are taking precautions to keep us safe. We must be careful, however, to not fall into the sins of despair and worry during this season.

Matthew 6 reminds us that what really matters, what should be sought first, is God’s Kingdom and his righteousness. Everything else is secondary. May your Kingdom come, O Lord, on earth as it is in heaven. Remember with me today that God is in control. The God who takes care of birds and flowers is going to take care of you too. That care may not come in the timing you would like or in the way that you prefer, but remember that you are worth more than many sparrows.

Pray with me that at the end of this rough season, we, like Paul, may be able to say “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Today’s devotional is authored by Allison Davis

Malachi 2:7-9
For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.

Reflection
Don’t you love those moments when you’re reading Scripture and think, “Wait, THAT’S in the Bible??”

God telling unfaithful priests he will spread dung on their faces? Yep. That’s in the Bible.

Malachi is a prophet who exposes the deep corruption within Israel following the Babylonian exiles’ return to Jerusalem. In our text today, God, through Malachi, gives a message of rebuke to Judah’s priests. But before we begin thinking that this chapter recorded thousands of years ago does not apply to us today, let us remember that in Christ we have become

“a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” – 1 Peter 2:9

Christians have been made a kingdom of priests whose duty it is to proclaim God’s excellencies! Therefore, the warning given through Malachi can apply to us: “the lips of a priest should guard knowledge…for he [or she] is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” Yikes! A messenger of God? Do you feel unqualified yet?

Lent is a season of repentance, and I believe we should take some time today to reflect and repent if we have “caused many to stumble by our instruction.” Have we furthered injustice but masked our actions with the name of Jesus? Have we shown partiality to some and neglected others? Have we led others into sin? Let us repent, brothers and sisters. Our God is willing and able to forgive us.

Let us also take comfort in the fact that God has sent his Spirit to dwell within us! We can by no means be a royal priesthood on our own. We need some supernatural help, amen? Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit guides us, convicts us, comforts us, and helps us live holy lives.

Spend time in prayer today confessing your failures as an unfaithful priest, then remember God’s love and grace to you. Let us press on, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the excellencies of the Lord who called us out of darkness! We now live in marvelous light!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.