Tag: the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many

Morning Prayer: Sat, 24 Sep – Psalm 8:9; Ecclesiastes 3:11-13; Matthew 20:25-28 ~ beautiful servants

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Reading: Psalm 8:9 (NLT)

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 (NLT)

eccl-3-11

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

Reading: Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Prayer

You pour life into me, giving me speech, sense, desire, giving me thought and action. You mark the way before me. On Your path, O my God, and not my own, be all my journeying. Rule this heart of mine that it be only Yours.

God, our God, Your design for us is perfect in its friendliness. There is a purpose in all things; and whoso finds it wins strength to bear. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life for many.

Peace between me and my God. May I tread the path to the gates of glory. Rule this heart of mine that it be only Yours. God’s path would I travel, my own path refuse. May I tread the path to the gates of glory.

“Ye Servants of God” – Washington Choral Arts Society

Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim, and publish abroad his wonderful name; the name all-victorious of Jesus extol, his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

God ruleth on high, almighty to save, and still he is nigh, his presence we have; the great congregation his triumph shall sing, ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.

“Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!” Let all cry aloud and honor the Son; the praises of Jesus the angels proclaim, fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.

Then let us adore and give him his right, all glory and power, all wisdom and might; all honor and blessing with angels above, and thanks never ceasing and infinite love.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 24 February – Matthew 20:17-28 ~ the bitter cup of suffering

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Matthew 20:17-28 (NLT)

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked.

bitter cup 1

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Morning Prayer

Gracious God: you gave your own Son, the Word made flesh, to suffer and die that we may have life. Give us the courage to “go up to Jerusalem” with him during this Lenten season.

+ May we listen to your voice as we journey with Christ from death to life.
+ Teach us to live sacrificially as willing servants for the good of others.
+ Teach us to live by your Spirit as faith-filled encouragers of those who doubt.
+ May the love of Christ find expression in all our ways of living.
+ May we celebrate his resurrection at Easter with great joy and love.

Heavenly Father protect your family during this Lenten journey. Strengthen us with your consoling presence and lead us to the joys of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“In Life And Death” – Greg Sykes |The New Hymns of Fanny Crosby

Closing Sentence

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!