What Jesus Did : Mark 12:38-39 - Loving the Limelight

    by Phil Ware

    Loving the Limelight - Mark 12:38-39

    Jesus continued teaching. Jesus said, "Be careful of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around wearing clothes that look important. And they love for people to show respect to them in the market places. They love to get the most important seats in the synagogues. And they love to get the most important seats at the feasts." (ERV) Full Text

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    Key Thought

    Being a teacher of the Bible and Christian living is not about prestige, position, or applause. Nearly every great teacher of God has had to endure ridicule, rejection, and possibly even suffering at one time or another. However, weaker souls are lured into a rotten mode of ministry because they desire the attention, attire, and adulation. This is not God's plan for a leader. This is not God's will for a faithful servant. In fact, these folks are to be avoided and their example is to be rejected. Those who follow Jesus are not about being "showy," but about being servants.


    Today's Prayer

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    Father, make my soul blanch at the thought of egotistically seizing the limelight for myself and parading around like I'm something important. Make me into a useful servant in your Kingdom who cares more about helping the broken than I do about being recognized. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


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    Today's Verses in Context


    Jesus was teaching in the temple area. Jesus asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David ? With the help of the Holy Spirit, David himself says: 'The Lord (God) said to my Lord (Christ): Sit by me at my right side, and I will put your enemies under your control. ' David himself calls the Christ 'Lord.' So how can the Christ be David's son?" Many people listened to Jesus and were very pleased. Jesus continued teaching. Jesus said, "Be careful of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around wearing clothes that look important. And they love for people to show respect to them in the market places. They love to get the most important seats in the synagogues. And they love to get the most important seats at the feasts. They are mean to widows and steal their homes. Then they try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. God will punish them very much." Jesus sat near the temple money box where people put their gifts. He watched the people put money in the box. Many rich people gave much money. Then a poor widow came and gave two very small copper coins. These coins were not even worth a penny. Jesus called his followers to him. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. This poor widow gave only two small coins. But she really gave more than all the rich people. Those people have plenty; they gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor. But she gave all she had. And she needed that money to help her live."

    -- Mark 12:35-44 (ERV)

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