Daily Devotional For Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional for today comes from the words of Jesus found in Mark 9:33-37:
“They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ (34) But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. (35) Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’ (36) Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, (37) “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me” (NASB).
Jesus and His disciples returned to Capernaum after a long day of teaching and healing. Capernaum was the hometown of Peter and it is probable they stayed there, which had been their custom (Mark 1:21, 29). The disciples saw Jesus as an earthly king and thus His teaching them that He would have to die was confusing and became a topic of argumentation between them. But this was not the main topic they were really arguing about on their journey to Capernaum. It seems based on Jesus' teaching here they were struggling with the issue of servanthood and serving others rather than being served as His ambassadors in His kingdom.
Jesus said greatness is determined by servanthood (Luke 10:45). Jesus says that a genuine leader for God puts his or her needs last. A genuine leader for God crucifies their desire for recognition and chooses relationships first. If you have an ego, then do not serve and expect to have titles others recognize and have special parking places. Genuine greatness puts others first and to illustrate this, Jesus took a child into His arms.
If you could read Aramaic, the words for “child” and “servant” are the same. Jesus would have been speaking Aramaic to His disciples. This may have been one of Peter’s children to illustrate this point. Just as a child lovingly trusts his or her parents, we come into God our Father’s family learning to lovingly trust Him and serve the way our heavenly Father says. Jesus’ statement can be understood when read in Matthew 18:1-5. The disciples were so focused on the organizational structure of Jesus’ earthly kingdom they had lost sight of its divine purpose.
Jesus attacked the preconceived structure of His day. In Jesus’ day, domination and conquest was the way kingdoms existed. To Jesus, His kingdom could only succeed through servanthood and love.This was a lesson Jesus’ disciples would not get until after the Resurrection. In fact, on the way to the Upper Room for Jesus’ last night alive prior to His crucifixion, they were arguing about which of them were going to be the greatest in His kingdom.
The big question was: who was going to sit on Jesus’ right and on His left? As I said, the words “child” and “servant” are the same in Aramaic. Thus, Jesus was saying that the disciples must receive His children (other servants and disciples) with the open arms and love with which He was holding that child. There was to be no thought of precedence (who was better than whom), but simple, open-armed affection. Jesus said that when they did this in His name, they welcomed not only Jesus Himself, “but the One who sent Me”—God the Father.
Jesus turned leadership upside down in His kingdom. The relationship between master and slave/servant is different in Jesus’ kingdom. In earthly kingdoms, fear of the monarch to his or her subjects is the motivation. In Jesus’ kingdom, fear of the masters offending God the Father with a high and mighty attitude or prideful attitude or privilege attitude is the motivation.
Reflection Assignment: When it comes to your own relationship and ministry, do you serve with an entitlement attitude or an attitude that puts others first? Do you have a heart to serve others or to be served?
Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 18:6, “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, I want a servant’s heart. I want to model Your life to others. Please forgive me when I feel someone should be serving me. Forgive me when I have an entitlement attitude. I never want to cause anyone, especially a child to stumble or walk away from You because of what they see in my attitude and actions. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly