Mark 10-13

Mark 10:44-45 "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 random for many."

I've just started my junior year in high school. And more and more I'm starting to see how these kids are growing up, walking around like everyone owes them something. They won't go the extra mile if it won't benefit them, it's always what they can get out of it, "me me me me me ..."

But I think that if someone just goes out of their way for them, that perhaps it'll eventually rub off on them. They'll serve someone else in some small way, and it might just keep going around.

I know that I get caught up in my life sometimes and that I often give up going out of my way for sake of convenience, and that I've skipped up on a lot of good serving opportunities.

Serving the Lord starts by serving others. That's how we can be a light in the darkness.

Lord, I pray that you'll give me plenty of opportunities to go out of my way for someone else, even if I normally wouldn't be happy to do so, and that I'd be genuinely happy to do it. That way, I might grow in You, Lord. And I also pray for opportunities to be bold, because when I pray for boldness, I know You don't make me bold, you give me opportunities to be bold. Amen.

Nikke's thoughts

13:9-11

9"You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

These verses really popped out to me when reading. As a Christian in the USA we do not see much persecution. We are blessed to live in a country which for the most part accepts us.
However, there are Christians who take the gospel to places that will persecute, torture and kill Christians. We cannot forget to pray for those. They are truly living out verse 10 that says: "And the gospel must first be preached to all nations."
You know when I meet someone in a store or wherever and strike up a conversation I sometimes try to find the right words to say to them to share the gospel. Sometimes I just get in the way. We don't need to have a perfect presentation. God will give us the words if we need to speak and if we don't have to speak our actions will show His love too.
The second half of verse 11 confirms that. "Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."

We don't have to be defensive about our faith or worry about what to say or do that is why we have the Holy Spirit. He will fill us and use us! How awesome is that?