What to Read When…You Are in A Position of Responsibility

Mark 10:35-45 –James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus and told him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you.” He asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” They asked him, “Let us sit in your glory, one on your right and one on your left.” 

But Jesus told them, “You don’t realize what you’re asking. Can you drink from the cup that I’m going to drink from or be baptized with the baptism with which I’m going to be baptized?” They told him, “We can.” Jesus told them, “You will drink from the cup that I’m going to drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I’m going to be baptized. But it’s not up to me to grant you a seat at my right or my left. Those positions have already been prepared for others.” 

  When the ten other disciples heard this, they began to be furious with James and John. Jesus called his disciples and told them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers among the gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors act like tyrants over them. That’s not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to everyone, because even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” 

Luke 7:1-10 –After Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people who were there listening, he went to Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom he valued highly, was sick and about to die. 
  When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and save his servant’s life. So they went to Jesus and begged him repeatedly, “He deserves to have this done for him, because he loves our people and built our synagogue for us.” 

  So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to tell Jesus, “Sir, stop troubling yourself, because I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof. That’s why I didn’t presume to come to you. But just say the word, and let my servant be healed, because I, too, am a man under authority and have soldiers under me. I say to one ‘Go’ and he goes, to another ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my servant ‘Do this’ and he does it.” 

  When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant in perfect health. 

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 –Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong. Everything you do should be done lovingly.

Galatians 6:9-10 –Let’s not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest—if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have the opportunity, let’s practice doing good to everyone, especially to the family of faith.